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"  FOREST  AND  PRAItllE  SERIES,"  Ko.  2. 


THE  PATH  m  THE  R AYINE 


BY 

EDWARD  S.  ELLIS 

AUTHOR  OF    "boy  PIONEER,   SERIES,"    "  DEERFOOT 
SERIES,"    '■  WILUWOOD   SERIES,"   ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA 
HENRY  T.  COATES   &   CO. 


COPTKIGHT.   1895. 
BT 

PORTER  &  COATES. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 

I.  In  the  Beak  Paw  Mothsttains, 

II.  An  Impressive  Scene, 

III.  At  Bay, 

IV.  A  Cry  from  the  Darkness, 
V.  Stirring  Times, 

VI.  The  Camp  Fire  in  the  Gorge, 

VII.  The  Mountain  Flood, 

VIII.  With  the  Torrent,   . 

IX.  Up  a  Tree,       .... 

X.  Aimless  Wanderings, 

XI.  A  Strange  Tug, 

XII.  A  Friend  Tried  and  True, 

XIII.  The  Descending  Path, 

XIV.  The  Lower  Level,     . 
XV.  An  Antelope, 

XVI.  An  Exchange,      .... 

XVII.  The  Toss  op  a  Nickel, 

XVIII.  At  Fort  Assinaboine, 

XIX.  The  Mountain  Trail  Again, 

XX.  The  Prisoner,     .... 

iii 


PAGE 

1 

11 

21 
29 

38 
47 
59 
66 
74 
84 
92 

101 

111 

119  . 

128 

138 

146 

150 

163 

172 


MaiJlj^^ 


IV 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXI.  The  Signal, 182 

XXII.  The  Cabin, 191 

XXIII.  A  Young  Hostess, 201 

XXIV.  The  Strength  of  Weakness,        .        .  210 
XXV.  Through  the  Lines, 218 

XXVI.  The  Lesser  Trail,          ....  227 

XXVII.  Turning  the  Tables,          ....  244 

XXVIII.  The  Wild  Oat's  Prisoners,           .        .  253 

XXIX.  "  Now,  Kitty,  Do  your  Best  ! "         .        .  263 

XXX.  The  Death  of  Kitty,             .        .        »  273 

XXXI.  Along  the  Mountain-side,         .        .        .  281 

XXXII.  Up  the  Trail, 292 

XXXIII.  "GooD-BYl" 304 


THE  PATH  m  THE  UAYINE. 


CHAPTER  I.      "  ■  ■; 

ITT  THE  BEAR  PAW  MOUkTAmS.' 

WHEX  Russell  Hillson  entered  the  United 
States  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point,  from  one  of  the  New  England  States, 
his  resolution  was  that  of  almost  every  young 
gentleman  admitted  to  that  institution ;  he 
would  graduate  at  the  head  of  his  class,  which 
numbered  103.  This  is  a  commendable  ambi- 
tion, since  it  ensures  the  best  efforts  of  the 
cadet,  but,  inasmuch  as  only  one  budding  gen- 
eral of  the  army  can  attain  that  distinction,  it 
follows  that  the  others  must  be  disap23ointed. 

One  of  the  shocks,  to  which  the  parents  of 
the  prim  cadets  are  destined,  is  that  of  awak- 
ing to  the  fact  that  a  young  man  may  be  the 
pride  of  his  school  at  home,  and  display  prom- 
ise of  becoming  one  of  the  most  distinguished 


*•.  ».  • 


2  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

of  liis  coniitrymen,  yet  a  few  months  at  West 
Point  are  quite  certain  to  bring  out  the  fact 
that  there  are  a  great  many  in  his  class 
brighter  than  he. 

^'I  tell  you  our  'Lige  will  show  'em  what's 
what,"  said  Deacon  Harris,  when  his  only 
son  and  'heir  left  home  with  his  trunk,  and 
iUs' appointment  from  the  Secretary  of  War  ; 
"there  isn't  a  boy  in  Pike  County  that  is 
his  ekle  ;  he'll  do  credit  to  Pennsylvany  and 
niore'n  likely  he'll  be  put  in  teacher  before 
he's  been  there  long;  'tween  you  and  me  I 
wouldn't  be  s'j)rised  if  he  took  charge  of 
things  and  run  'em,  for  'Lige  is  as  smart  as 
they  make  'em." 

Alas,  at  the  end  of  half  a  year  Elijah  joined 
the  thirty-eight  *' found,"  and  went  back  to 
Pike  County  with  the  dismal  word  that  the 

m 

pace  up  the  Hudson  was  too  hot  for  him. 
His  father  was  dumfounded,  and  for  a  time 
couldn't  understand  it,  but,  with  a  knowing 
shake  of  his  head,  declared  he  was  now  con- 
vinced of  what  he  had  suspected  all  along: 
gross  favoritism  was  shown  in  that  school, 
which  is  really  as  free  from  it  as  any  institu- 


IN   THE   BEAR  PAW   MOUNTAINS.  3 

tion  in  the  world.  Besides,  lie  knew  the  ad- 
ministration had  learned  of  the  active  war  he 
had  waged  in  Pike  County  against  it  during 
the  last  election,  and  was  mean  enough  to 
take  this  way  of  paying  him  off  for  his  manly 
independence. 

But  young  Hillson  was  more  fortunate,  for 
nature  and  training  had  done  much  for  him. 
He  was  mentally  bright,  had  a  fine  physique, 
was  an  excellent  horseman,  and  possessed  the 
rare  good  sense  of  knowing  that  the  first  duty 
of  a  soldier  is  to  obey,  and  he  always  did  it 
cheerfully.  True,  it  was  rather  rough  to  be 
**  skinned"  because  the  inspector  detected  a 
couple  of  drops  of  water  on  the  bare  floor  of 
his  room  one  day  ;  and  when  a  large  mosquito 
was  boring  into  the  end  of  his  nose  while  at 
parade,  he  gave  a  quick  flirt  of  his  hand  and 
not  only  smashed  his  tormentor  but  got  a 
demerit  at  the  same  moment. 

A  week  later,  when  Yelverton  of  Arkansas 
came  to  the  front  at  "rear  open  order,"  he 
was  sure  he  never  saw  a  i^air  of  ears  stand 
out  more  comically  than  those  on  his  nicely 
cropped  head,   and    smiled.      It  was   only  a 


4  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

shadowy  yielding  of  the  facial  muscles,  but  it 
was  enough  to  win  another  demerit,  as  were 
slips  which  he  made  now  and  then.  These 
strike  the  outsider  as  trifles  light  as  air, 
but  they  have  their  weight  at  the  institution, 
where,  it  may  be  said,  discipline  ranks  all 
other  attainments  of  the  cadet. 

'^  Grant  and  Sherman  and  Thomas  and  Lee 
and  Sheridan  and  all  the  rest  went  through  it, 
and  /can,"  muttered  Hillson,  closing  his  lips, 
and  making  sure  that  the  candles,  by  which 
he  was  *' boning"  after  taps,  were  so  well 
screened  by  the  blankets  over  the  window  and 
transom  that  no  passing  officer  could  detect  a 
chance  ray. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  year,  when  the  class 
was  reduced  to  an  even  sixty,  Kussell  stood 
fourth,  which  was  certainly  a  creditable 
record.  He  was  still  in  the  first  section  in 
all  his  studies. 

But  the  second  year  brought  its  stumbling 
block  in  the  form  of  Church's  Calculus,  which 
swung  him  into  the  second  section.  This  was 
a  good  way  from  the  *' immortals,"  in  the 
sixth  section,  but  nearer  than  he  liked.     He 


IN   THE   BEAR  PAW   MOUNTAINS.  O 

struggled  liard  and  came  within  a  hair  of  get- 
ting back,  but  he  stepped  over  the  threshold 
of  the  third  year  with  the  handicap  still  upon 
him. 

It  was  odd  that  on  young  Hillson's  nine- 
teenth birthday,  when  he  strolled  down  to  the 
gymnasium  to  examine  the  lists  posted  there, 
he  discovered  that  at  last  he  was  in  the  first 
section  again.  Had  it  been  a  year  later  he 
would  have  received  the  usual  '' bumping" 
down  by  the  sink,  by  which  the  other  cadets 
love  to  express  their  congratulations. 

Mineralogy  and  petrography  worried  him 
the  third  year,  and  law  was  the  lion  in  his 
path  during  his  last  terms. 

*'  You  are  doing  well,"  said  his  old  friend. 
General  Hancock,  "for  in  these  days  any 
young  man  does  well  who  succeeds  in  graduat- 
ing at  all  at  West  Point,  where  we  old-timers 
would  have  to  hustle  from  the  beginning." 

He  might  have  taken  consolation  also  from 
the  fact  stated  by  General  Sherman,  as  late  as 
June,  1889,  when  talking  with  a  lot  of  us  on 
the  porch  of  the  West  Point  Hotel,  that  the 
history  of  the  West  Point  graduates  shows 


6  THE  PATH  IN   THE  EAVINE. 

the  record  of  tlie  lowest  five  in  eacli  class  ex- 
ceeds that  of  the  highest  five. 

Kussell  came  out  thirteenth  in  a  class  of 
fifty.  This  slid  him  below  the  engineers  and 
into  the  artillery,  but  he  took  the  cavalry  by 
choice.  He  was  fond  of  horses  and  fancied 
the  exhilarating  service  on  the  frontier.  He 
had  a  natural  dread  of  the  flaming  climate  of 
Arizona  and  the  Southwest,  and  was  greatly 
relieved,  therefore,  when  he  found  himself 
assigned  to  the  — th  cavalry,  at  Fort  Assina- 
boine,  away  up  in  Northern  Montana,  at  the 
junction  of  the  Big  Sandy  Creek  and  Milk 
River,  and  within  the  Indian  Reservation  of 
the  Gros  Ventre,  Piegan,  Blackfeet,  and  River 
Crow  tribes. 

The  Big  Sandy  Creek  flows  from  the  south- 
west, and  like  its  own  tributaries,  Duck  Creek, 
Box  Elder,  and  smaller  streams,  has  its  source 
among  the  wild  fastnesses  of  the  Bear 
Paw  Mountains,  while  the  Beaver  Creek, 
Peckham's  Creek,  Clear  Creek,  Snake  Creek, 
People's  Creek,  and  others,  rise  in  the  Little 
Rocky  Mountains  and  flow  into  the  Milk 
River  to  the  east  of  the  fort. 


IN  THE   BEAR  PAW   MOUNTAIXS.  7 

The  first  lieutenant  of  tlie  — th  cavalry  was 
Albert  Palmer  of  Illinois,  several  years  older 
than  Hillson,  while  Martin  Draper,  a  grizzled 
colonel  of  the  Civil  War,  was  post  commander. 
Many  of  the  troopers  had  seen  service  on  the 
battlefields  of  the  south,  and  the  force  was  one 
of  the  best  on  the  frontier. 

The  life  of  a  soldier  on  the  border  is  gener- 
ally of  the  most  monotonous  nature,  consist- 
ing of  the  same  round  of  parade,  inspection, 
drill,  and  officer  of  the  day  duty,  with  hours 
of  idleness  between,  enlivened  now  and  then 
by  some  brisk  marching  toward  a  point  whence 
have  come  rejDorts  of  trouble  that  generally 
prove  groundless. 

!N'aturally  the  attaches  of  such  a  remote  post 
as  Fort  Assinaboine,  located  in  one  of  the  best 
hunting  regions  of  the  world,  find  time  to  look 
for  game,  which  is  tempting  enough  to  attract 
professional  sportsmen  from  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic.  Thus  it  was  no  unusual  thing 
for  Lieutenants  Palmer  and  Hillson  to  engage 
in  an  excursion  among  the  rugged  defiles  of 
the  Bear  PaAv  Mountains,  whenever  j)ermission 
could  be  obtained  for  that  pur^^ose. 


8  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAYITTE. 

Less  than  a  score  of  miles  to  the  south  of 
the  fort  was  a  section  which  had  become  some- 
what familiar,  for  more  than  once  they  found 
the  rarest  and  most  stirring  kind  of  enjoyment 
there.  The  young  officers  were  always  well 
mounted,  their  weapons  consisting  of  a  re- 
volver and  magazine  rifle,  and  in  the  autumn 
time  the  air  was  cool  and  bracing. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  the  ele- 
vation of  the  greater  part  of  the  State  of 
Montana  is  so  slight,  compared  with  the  sur- 
rounding States  and  Territories,  that  the  cli- 
mate is  much  milder  than  at  other  places  of 
the  same  latitude. 

*'I  wonder  where  this  trail  would  take  us  if 
followed  to  the  end,"  said  Palmer,  as  his  horse 
led  the  way  up  the  gradual  ascent,  around 
bowlders,  massive  rocks,  by  the  side  of  canons 
and  chasms,  where  a  misstep  was  like  to  bring 
irretrievable  disaster. 

"I  suppose,"  replied  Hillson,  ''that  years 
ago,  before  the  reservation  was  established, 
there  was  some  village  of  Blackfeet  or  Crow 
Indians  located  among  the  wildest  portions, 
that  they  might  be  safer  from  their  enemies, 


IN  THE   BEAR  PAW   MOUNTAINS.  9 

and  this  mountain  trail  is  the  route  by  which 
the  warriors  reached  the  level  country  north- 
ward to  hunt  the  buffaloes." 

*'  Some  of  these  days,  when  we  can  gain  the 
time,  we  will  start  on  a  little  tour  of  exj)lora- 
tion,"  said  Palmer,  who,  like  his  companion, 
was  in  high  spirits  at  the  prospect  of  a  day's 
sport  in  the  mountains. 

''Holloa!"  exclaimed  Hillson,  a  moment 
later,  observing  that  his  friend  in  advance  had 
halted,  "what's  up?" 

"  I  suspect  we  are  at  the  end  of  our  tether," 
laughed  Palmer,  turning  his  head  ;  "  it  looks 
as  if  the  aboriginal  authorities  don't  keep 
their  bridges  in  good  repair." 

Hillson  edged  his  mare  ahead  until  her  nose 
was  at  the  haunch  of  the  horse,  when  the  rider, 
by  peering  forward,  saw  the  cause  of  the  ab- 
rupt stoppage. 

The  mountain  trail  followed  for  some  dis- 
tance the  side  of  a  range  whose  slox)es  were 
covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  timber  and  no 
end  of  rocks,  bowlders,  ratines,  and  chasms. 
The  course  was  steadily  ascending,  but  the 
path  was  not  broad  enough  for  the  horsemen 


10  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

to  ride  abreast,  and  not  infrequently  was  so 
narrow  that,  accustomed  as  they  were  to 
danger,  they  shrank  close  to  the  wall  on  their 
left,  caught  their  breath,  and  asked  themselves 
whether  they  were  not  taking  more  chances 
than  was  prudent. 

The  trail,  so  far  as  they  could  judge,  had  not 
been  travelled  lately  by  a  horseman,  though 
any  number  of  Indians  or  w^hite  hunters 
might  have  made  their  way  over  it  on  foot, 
without  leaving  traces  that  could  have  been 
detected  except  by  the  trained  eye  of  the 
dusky  red   man. 

On  the  left  was  the  mountain,  and  on  the 
right  the  vast  slope  descended  at  such  an  angle 
that  a  bowlder  once  started  would  crash  to  the 
bottom,  hundreds  of  feet  below,  with  almost 
resistless  momentum.  A  man  might  save 
himself  by  grasping  the  trees  and  taking 
advantage  of  the  interposing  rocks  and  ob- 
structions, but  it  would  have  taken  a  good 
deal  of  skill  and  much  outlay  of  strength. 


CHAPTER  11. 

AN    IMPRESSIVE    SCENE. 

DIRECTLY  in  front  of  Lieutenant  Palmer 
the  ledge  along  which  they  were  thread- 
ing their  way  was  broken  by  a  rent  a  couple  of 
yards  wide.  It  looked  as  if  some  enormous 
rock,  starting  near  the  crest  of  the  mountain, 
had  shot  downward  with  terrific  force,  and 
bounding  aloft,  dropped  upon  this  section  of 
the  path,  carrying  it  away  like  so  much  card- 
board. 

"  There  seems  to  be  nothing  the  matter  with 
it  just  beyond,"  remarked  Hillson,  rising  in 
his  stirrups  and  looking  over  the  shoulder  of 
his  friend,  "and  it  is  no  jump  for  either  of 
our  animals." 

"That  isn't  the  trouble,"  replied  Palmer; 
"but,  after  the  leap,  will  their  hoofs  land  on 
solid  ground  ?  If  not,  we  shall  take  a  tobog- 
gan slide  into  the  gorge,  without  a  chance  of 
climbing  up  again.' 


11 


12  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

It  was  a  serious  question,  and  the  young 
ofScers  debated  it  several  minutes  before  de- 
ciding upon  tlieir  course.  They  had  pene- 
trated so  far  tliat  they  were  loath  to  turn  back, 
while,  with  all  their  pluck,  they  hesitated  to 
advance. 

''An  elephant  tests  a  shaky  structure  before 
trusting  it,"  said  Hillson,  ''and  that's  what 
we  will  do." 

"Howr' 

"I'll  show  you,"  he  replied,  slipping  from 
his  saddle  and  taking  the  mare  by  the  bit. 
With  a  few  gentle  words,  he  backed  her  sev- 
eral paces  and  then  asked  Palmer  to  do  the 
same.  "  We  shall  have  to  back  further  than 
this  to  find  a  place  broad  enough  for  them  to 
turn  round,"  he  explained,  as  the  first  lieu- 
tenant imitated  him.  "IN'ow  let  me  pass," 
added  Hillson,  placing  himself  in  front  of  his 
companion,  who  watched  his  movements  with 
no  little  interest.  Hillson  gave  no  further  ex- 
planation, but,  finding  himself  in  advance, 
paused  a  moment,  as  if  measuring  with  his 
eye  the  yawning  abyss  before  him.  Then, 
gathering  his  muscles,  he  ran  swiftly  to  the 


AN  IMPRESSIVE  SCENE.  13 

edge  of  the  break,  and  with  a  vigorous  bound 
landed  on  the  other  side. 

The  meaning  of  this  action  was  manifest: 
he  Avished  to  examine  the  trail  where  their 
horses  must  alight.  Stooping  over,  he  tested 
the  flinty  ground  by  means  of  his  hands  and 
feet. 

''It's  all  right,''  he  said,  addressing  his 
friend,  "you  needn't  be  afraid  to  try  it." 

"  Of  course  not,  if  I  follow  your  style  ;  make 
room  for  me." 

A  short,  rapid  run,  and  he  dropped  in  front 
of  the  other,  who  stepped  back  to  give  him 
space. 

The  intelligent  animals  watched  the  action 
of  their  riders  and  awaited  orders  to  follow 
them.  Palmer  called  his  steed  by  name  and 
he  instantly  obeyed,  while  a  single  whistle  of 
Hillson  to  Kitty  brought  her  almost  upon  the 
heels  of  the  leader. 

The  animals  caused  some  misgiving,  for 
their  greater  weight  was  sure  to  put  the  edge 
of  the  trail  to  a  severer  test  than  did  the 
youths,  who  made  sure  of  clearing  by  several 
feet.     The  mare  did  not  deem  it  worth  while 


14  THE  PATH   IN   THE   EAVINE. 

to  exert  herself  to  the  degree  of  her  predeces- 
sors, and,  as  a  consequence,  one  of  her  hoofs 
knocked  the  dirt  loose  and  she  sank  as  if  about 
to  go  over  the  precipice.  Hillson  called  sharply 
to  her  and  sprang  forward  to  seize  her  bit, 
but,  before  he  could  do  so,  she  struggled  to 
her  feet,  regained  her  poise,  and  shook  her 
pretty  head  as  if  to  say : 

"  Don't  worry  about  me,  young  man  ;  I  can 
take  care  of  myself." 

The  officers  remounted,  and  once  more 
moved  up  the  mountain  trail,  along  w^hich 
they  had  already  advanced  further  than  ever 
before.  Their  experience  taught  them  to  be 
guarded,  for  other  gaps  w^ere  likely  to  be 
found,  and  treacherous  foundations  were  apt 
to  occur  where  everything  looked  solid  and 
safe. 

The  afternoon  was  half  gone,  and  the  sky, 
which  was  clear  when  they  left  the  fort,  was 
clouded  and  had  every  appearance  of  a  coming 
storm.  From  the  fort,  they  had  witnessed  a 
great  fall  of  rain  in  the  direction  of  the  moun- 
tains a  couple  of  days  before,  but  feared  no 
inconvenience  therefrom,  though  the  X)ools  of 


AN   IMPRESSIVE  SCENE.  15 

water  in  the  hollows  showed  that  the  warm  sun 
had  not  yet  evaporated  all  the  moisture. 

Some  of  the  older  men  had  warned  them 
against  venturing  in  the  mountains,  Avhere  the 
rush  of  water  in  the  pent  up  canons  was 
often  sudden  and  resistless,  as  in  the  appalling 
calamity  which  not  long  since  desolated 
Johnstown  and  the  surrounding  country,  but 
the  young  officers  were  ardent  and  hopeful, 
and,  like  many  others  of  their  age  and  limited 
experience,  were  confident  they  knew  how  to 
take  care  of  themselves. 

They  were  pushing  their  way  up  the  moun- 
tain trail  in  the  guarded  manner  shown  from 
the  first,  when  Palmer,  still  a  short  way  in 
advance,  halted  with  the  abruptness  of  before. 

"  Is  it  another  break?"  called  his  companion. 

*' Yes,  but  not  of  the  other  kind,"  replied 
Palmer,  jjartly  turning  his  head  as  before. 

"  Have  we  reached  the  end  of  the  road — well, 
I  declare  ! ' ' 

The  exclamation  was  caused  by  the  sudden 
disappearance  of  the  leader.  Had  not  Hillson 
been  looking  directly  at  him,  he  would  have 
believed  the  ground  had  given  away  under  the 


16  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

hoofs  of  his  horse  and  let  him  and  his  rider 
down  to  destruction  ;  but  nothing  of  the  kind 
took  place.  Palmer  had  turned  the  head  of 
his  steed  to  the  left,  and  ridden  seemingly 
straight  into  the  solid  mountain,  as  if  entering 
the  door  to  some  mysterious  cavern. 

But  they  were  not  in  a  land  of  mystery,  and 
Hillson  twitched  the  rein  of  Kitty,  who  stepped 
more  briskly.  A  few  paces  further  and,  with- 
out any  direction  from  her  rider,  she,  too, 
turned  sharply  to  the  left,  passing  out  of 
sight  of  anyone  moving  along  the  trail,  either 
above  or  below  the  point  of  vanishment. 

The  mountain  wall  which  they  had  followed 
so  long  seemed  to  have  been  rent  apart  by 
some  convulsion  of  nature,  ages  before,  leaving 
a  rent  several  yards  wide,  which  wound  indefi- 
nitely in  front  of  them.  The  bottom,  although 
rough  and  uneven,  was  comparatively  level, 
offering  such  easy  travel  for  their  animals 
that  the  change  of  direction  was  made  with 
but  slight  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the 
leader. 

At  the  moment  of  turning  into  this  *'side 
issue,"  as  it  may  be  called,  Hillson  saw  his 


AN  IMPRESSIVE  SCENE.  17 

companion  only  two  or  three  rods  in  advance. 
The  chasm  was  broad  enough  for  them  to  ride 
abreast,  and  he  checked  his  horse  for  the 
younger  to  join  him. 

"■  I  don't  know  how  far  this  can  be  traced," 
said  Palmer,  ''but  it  struck  me  as  worth  look- 
ing into." 

"  You  look  into  it  before  entering,"  replied 
Hillson,  "and  it  may  prove  more  extensive 
than  the  other.  However,  if  it  has  not  too 
many  branches  we  ought  to  be  in  no  danger 
of  getting  lost." 

As  the  couple  progressed  it  began  to  look 
as  if  they  were  entering  a  land  of  wonders  and 
enchantment.  The  channel  gradually  widened 
until  it  was  a  hundred  feet  broad.  This  in- 
creased after  a  time  to  double  that  extent, 
which,  so  far  as  they  could  learn,  was  its  great- 
est width.  The  mountains  rose  on  either 
hand  to  a  height  of  three,  four,  and  even  five 
hundred  feet.  The  sides  were  composed  of 
enormous  gray  rocks,  with  irregular  projec- 
tions, a  huge  mass  sometimes  reaching  so  far 
out  over  the  gorge  that  it  seemed  on  the  point 
of  toppling  over  and  falling  with  a  crash  that 

2 


18  THE   PATH   IN  THE  EAYINE. 

would  have  cruslied  every  thing  beneath  into 
fragments. 

Between  the  many  layers  of  rocks  and  bowl- 
ders were  patches  of  dirt,  which  afforded 
enough  sustenance  to  numerous  stunted  pines 
for  them  to  acquire  a  sturdy  foothold  with 
which  they  had  defied  the  storms.  These 
seemed  to  shoot  out  in  many  places  from 
cracks  in  the  rocks  themselves,  where  no  earth 
could  be  discerned  (though  of  course  it  must 
have  been  there),  after  which  the  tough,  wiry 
trunks  curved  upward,  so  that  the  crests  of 
the  trees,  like  all  vegetation  everywhere,  was 
turned  toward  the  x^oint  where  the  sun  first 
showed  itself. 

There  were  other  places  where  a  species  of 
running  vine  of  ivy  clung  to  the  Jagged  masses 
of  stone  and  climbed  upward,  as  it  does  along 
the  walls  of  the  old  baronial  castles  of  the 
Rhine,  smothering  all  things  in  its  path,  and 
reaching  for  others  beyond. 

There  were  spots  along  the  upper  edge  of 
the  ravine  which  must  have  been  attained 
long  before,  for  the  green  vine  kept  on  grow- 
ing until  it  tottered  several  feet  above  its  sup- 


AN   IMPRESSIVE   SCENE.  19 

port,  tlie  beautiful  top  so  delicately  balanced, 
that,  as  the  wondering  youths  gazed  ui^ward 
at  it,  it  was  seen  to  sway  gently  back  and  forth 
in  the  gentle  breeze  which  was  not  to  be  felt 
by  them  in  the  gorge  below. 

Here  and  there  among  tliis  wealth  of  vege- 
tation a  violet  flower  gleamed  like  a  jewel 
against  the  emerald  background,  while  the 
trunk  of  one  huge  vine  that  had  been  detached 
dangled  downward  as  if  it  were  an  immense 
serpent  watching  for  its  prey  in  the  dej^ths 
below. 

By  a  common  imx)ulse  the  young  officers 
drew  the  reins  of  their  animals  and  looked 
around  them,  impressed  and  awed  by  the 
striking  scene.  They  had  been  among  the 
mountains  before,  but  never  had  they  beheld 
such  a  sight  as  this. 

"This  is  worth  a  long  journey  to  see,"  re- 
marked Palmer,  in  tones  unconsciously  low- 
ered, as  a  person  will  modulate  his  voice  when 
standing  within  the  cool  shadows  of  some  vast 
cathedral. 

"Yes;  nature  laughs  at  the  efforts  of  man 
to  rival  her  grandeur  and  power.     What  a 


20  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

prodigious  eartliquake  it  must  have  been  that 
wrenched  these  mountains  asunder  !  " 

''And  why  should  it  have  been  an  earth- 
quake, when  the  same  power  that  creates  the 
earthquake  could  fashion  this  temx)le?" 

"  Only  that  the  strata  on  the  sides  of  the 
gorge  corresiDond  so  closely  that  they  must 
have  been  once  joined  together." 

''  I  have  noticed  that,  and  probably  you  are 
right,  but — look!  " 


CHAPTER  III. 

AT    BAY. 

A  T  tlie  point  wliere  the  young  officers  had 
-/ijL.  halted  the  wild  gorge  was  fully  two 
hundred  feet  wide,  the  vast  walls  of  gray  and 
black  rock  on  either  hand  being  covered  in 
places  with  dwarf  pine  and  vines,  as  already 
described,  while  the  trees  far  above  their  heads 
grew  in  most  places  to  the  very  edge  of  the 
ravine. 

This  gorge,  instead  of  following  a  straight 
course  through  the  mountains,  trended  so 
often  to  the  right  and  left  that  the  view  both 
in  front  and  rear  was  brief.  A  stone's  throw 
in  either  direction  would  have  brought  one  to 
a  curve  which  shut  out  everything  beyond. 

The  bottom  of  the  ravine  was  strewn  with 
huge  bowlders  and  rocks,  which  forced  the 
horsemen  to  pick  their  way  in  and  out  among 
them,  sometimes  riding  close  to  one  side  and 
then  obliged  to  pass  to  the  other,  before  they 

21 


22  THE  PATH   IN   THE   RAVINE. 

could  make  their  way  forward.  The  pools  of 
water  in  the  hollows,  between  the  loose  bowl- 
ders, were  connected  by  a  rivulet  which  showed 
that  at  times  huge  bodies  of  water  rushed 
through  the  gorge  in  the  direction  of  the 
mountain  trail  left  some  time  before. 

This  stream  must  have  X30ssessed  a  subterra- 
nean outlet,  since  the  point  where  the  horse- 
men turned  to  the  left  from  the  main  path 
was  iDerfectly  dry. 

That  which  caused  the  exclamation  of  Lieu- 
tenant Palmer  was  a  unique  scene.  At  the 
highest  i3oint  of  the  walls  above  their  heads, 
and  only  a  short  distance  in  advance,  a  mass 
of  rock,  weighing  many  tons,  obtruded  over 
the  gorge,  expanding  as  it  advanced,  until  the 
wonder  was  how  such  a  colossal  pile  could  be 
sustained  by  the  neck  of  stone  joining  it  to 
the  mainland. 

This  of  itself,  while  striking  and  picturesque, 
was  not  the  attraction  to  the  young  horsemen. 
At  the  moment  Lieutenant  Palmer  cast  his 
eye  toAvard  it,  he  observed  an  animal  picking 
his  way  along  the  rough  top  toward  the  outer- 
most point  over  the  gorge.     The  stone  was 


AT   BAY.  23 

not  covered  by  vine,  tree,  or  a  shred  of  vege- 
tation, so  tlie  animal  was  in  plain  sight. 

"  It  is  a  big-horn  sheep,"  whisi^ered  Palmer, 
"and  what  is  he  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  It  looks  as  if  he  meant  to  try  a  leap  to  the 
other  side." 

"He  is  not  such  a  fool  as  that,  when  it  is 
fully  two  hundred  feet,  and  the  big-horn  isn't 
lacking  in  brains." 

"We  shall  soon  see." 

The  animal  continued  his  walk  until  at  the 
furthest  point  from  the  edge  of  the  ravine, 
when,  of  necessity,  he  stopped.  He  gave  only 
a  glance  at  the  other  side,  which  was  far 
beyond  his  reach,  when  he  stopped  and  looked 
about  him.  The  watchful  creature  was  quick 
to  perceive  the  horsemen,  hundreds  of  feet 
below,  in  the  gorge,  and,  as  they  looked  up  at 
him,  he  returned  the  stare  by  elevating  his 
head  and  gazing  enquiringly  down  at  them. 

The  animal  must  have  felt  himself  safe  at 
that  great  height,  for,  although  very  timid  by 
nature,  he  showed  no  signs  of  fright,  and 
seemed  to  find  something  interesting  in  tlie 
sight  of  the  tiny  figures  far  below,  where  they 


24  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

were  probably  the  first  white  men  who  had 
entered. 

The  big-horn  sheep  is  a  widely  distributed 
animal,  ranging  along  the  mountain  chains  of 
the  Great  Divide  from  the  arid  tablelands  of 
Central  Mexico  to  the  frozen  regions  of  British 
America.  During  the  warm  weather  he  climbs 
the  loftiest  mountains,  often  passing  above  the 
timber  line,  while  during  the  blizzard  season  he 
descends  to  the  foot-hills  or  migrates  south- 
ward. 

In  Mexico,  the  animal  is  known  as  the  cim- 
maron  sheep,  and  is  the  only  representative  of 
the  various  kinds  of  mountain  sheep  of  the 
Old  World.  Their  weight  sometimes  reaches 
four  hundred  pounds,  and,  because  of  their 
skill  in  climbing  the  mountain  crags  and  their 
alertness  against  danger,  tbey  are  regarded  as 
among  the  choicest  prizes  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain hunter. 

The  sheep  on  which  the  young  officers 
looked,  it  was  easy  to  see,  despite  its  great 
elevation,  was  one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind. 
Both  were  stirred  by  the  thought  of  bringing 
down  such  a  noble  specimen  of  game. 


AT   BAY.  25 

**I  think  we  can  reach  him,"  said  Palmer, 
after  watching  the  animal  for  a  minute  or  two. 

"  I  have  no  doubt  of  it,  but  it  seems  a  pity 
to  wing  him,  after  showing  such  confidence 
in  us." 

"I  think  it  is  rather  a  lack  of  confidence  in 
our  marksmanship,"  added  the  elder,  with  a 
laugh,  "but  he  does  make  a  fine  picture." 

The  buck  was  furnished  with  a  magnificent 
pair  of  horns,  which  curved  backward  over  his 
neck,  and,  because  of  the  elevated  position  of 
his  head,  formed  the  most  prominent  features 
of  the  creature. 

Since  the  two  had  come  out  for  game,  it 
was  hardly  in  keeping  that  they  should  refuse 
to  take  advantage  of  the  unexpected  chance 
thrown  in  their  way.  Despite  the  sentimen- 
tality of  the  younger  officer,  the  elder  dis- 
mounted, in  order  to  take  the  more  careful 
aim  at  the  sheep,  when  something  in  his  action 
caused  him  to  hesitate. 

"  The  fellow  is  cornered,"  said  Hillson. 

The  remark  was  caused  by  the  sight  of  a 
huge  gaunt  wolf,  which  was  now  seen  sneaking 
out  on  the  projecting  rock  after  the  sheep, 


26  THE  PATH  IN  THE   RAVINE. 

wliich  it  will  be  seen  was  caught  in  a  bad  box, 
for  while  retreat  was  cut  off,  he  could  not 
reach  the  mainland  without  walking  directly 
into  the  embrace  of  his  enemy,  who  saw  the 
finest  dinner  of  his  life  almost  within  his  jaws. 

^'Now,  if  you  want  to  test  your  marksman- 
ship. Palmer,  let  us  try  it  on  that  brute  that 
is  after  him." 

*'  Wait  a  minute  ;  every  animal  is  provided 
by  nature  with  some  means  of  defence.  A 
sheep  isn't  a  very  dangerous  creature,  but  even 
he  will  fight  when  driven  into  a  corner,  and  the 
old  fellow  may  make  better  nse  of  those  fine 
horns  than  we  suspect." 

But  Hillson  saw  so  little  ho^De  for  the  poor 
fellow  that  he  was  not  inclined  to  wait.  While 
the  wolf  was  stealing  toward  the  animal,  he 
sighted  his  Winchester  with  great  care  at  the 
former  and  fired.  The  shot  was  a  difficult  one, 
owing  to  the  unusual  position  of  the  wolf,  and 
there  was  no  evidence  that  he  had  been  hit. 
Neither  he  nor  the  big-horn  started  or  looked 
down  at  the  point  whence  the  report  came. 
Just  then  their  mutual  interest  was  too  in- 
tense. 


AT  BAY.  27 

The  sheep  stood  for  several  seconds  staring 
at  the  wolf  drawing  slowly  but  surely  near. 
He  seemed  to  become  panic-stricken,  and 
started  forward  in  a  timid  way,  as  if  he  ex- 
pected to  flank  his  enemy,  but  the  space  was 
too  narrow,  and  the  savage  brute  was  too 
watchful.  The  sheep  hastily  withdrew  again 
to  the  further  edge  of  his  sujoport,  where  he 
could  not  retreat  another  step  without  falling 
into  the  gorge  below.  Here  he  stood  with 
head  still  erect,  and  eye  fixed  upon  the  beast 
approaching  with  the  slow  certainty  of  death 
itself. 

After  his  single  shot  Hill  son  did  not  repeat 
the  attempt,  but,  like  his  companion,  gave  his 
whole  attention  to  the  singular  tragedy  draw- 
ing to  a  crisis  before  his  eyes.  Could  he  have 
been  certain  of  tumbling  the  wolf  from  his 
perch  he  would  have  fired  again,  but,  since  the 
big-horn  seemed  doomed  under  any  circum- 
stances, he  preferred  the  simple  part  of  spec- 
tator. 

When  the  wolf  was  within  about  ten  feet, 
the  sheep  lowered  his  head  as  if  he  meant  to 
make  a  fight  to  the  death.     He  could  do  some- 


28  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

thing  with  those  horns,  but,  after  all,  they 
amounted  to  little  against  the  greater  strength, 
activity,  and  means  of  defence  possessed  by  his 
assailant. 

The  latter  crouched  on  his  belly,  as  if  gath- 
ering his  muscles  for  a  spring.  He  must  have 
known  the  risk  he  ran,  for  the  sheep  was  so 
close  to  the  edge  that  the  momentum  was 
likely  to  throw  both  over,  unless  the  defender 
should  brace  himself  to  withstand  the  shock. 

For  several  seconds  neither  animal  stirred. 
The  wolf  lay  flat,  with  jaws  parted,  and  the 
spectators  in  the  gorge  far  below  fancied  they 
could  hear  the  exultant  snarling,  as  he  meas- 
ured the  distance  separating  them  and  pre- 
pared for  his  fatal  leap. 

The  splendid  big-horn,  balanced  on  the  very 
edge  of  the  bewildering  height,  waited  with 
his  head  lowered  for  the  charge.  Had  he 
possessed  straight,  pointed  horns  like  the 
species  of  ibex  of  the  Dark  Continent,  he 
might  have  done  effective  work,  but,  as  it 
was,  he  was  helpless  against  his  merciless 
enemy. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  CEY  FEO:vr  THE  DARKNESS. 

IT  may  have  been  that  in  that  supreme 
moment  a  realizing  sense  of  his  helx^less- 
ness  overwhelmed  the  big-horn,  for  suddenly, 
without  the  least  thought  of  any  such  thing 
on  the  part  of  the  spectators,  he  wheeled  about, 
so  as  to  face  the  other  way,  and  made  a  single 
tremendous  leap  straight  out  into  space. 

It  was  a  thrilling  sight  as  the  despairing 
animal,  with  his  head  thrown  far  back,  so  that 
his  curving  horns  lay  on  the  soft  wool  on  his 
neck,  and  his  shajDely  legs  gathered  under 
him,  w^ent  sailing  out  into  the  air.  His 
body  described  a  beautiful  parabola,  until, 
reaching  the  further  point,  it  shot  straight 
downward  like  a  stone,  its  velocity  accelerated, 
until  it  struck  the  rocks  at  the  bottom  with  a 
violence  that  must  have  shattered  every  bone 
and  driven  out  the  breath  of  life  as  if  smitten 
with  a  bolt  of  lightning. 

29 


30  THE  PATH   IN   THE   RAVINE. 

The  big-horn  saw  it  was  simply  a  choice  of 
deaths,  and  he  wisely  chose  the  least  painful. 
It  was  a  case  of  deliberate  suicide,  in  which  the 
guilty  party  cannot  be  condemned. 

The  wolf  seemed  puzzled  by  what  had  taken 
place.  The  instant  the  sheep  made  his  leap 
he  rose  upon  his  four  feet,  and  watching  him 
for  the  instant  he  was  in  sight,  while  he  held 
that  position,  he  trotted  to  the  edge,  and, 
with  his  nose  thrust  over  the  rock,  gazed 
downward  at  the  body  descending  with  such 
dizzying  swiftness,  until  it  lay  a  shapeless 
mass  at  the  bottom  of  the  gorge.  Then,  as  if 
he  understood  the  base  trick  that  had  been 
played  upon  him,  he  pointed  his  snout  toward 
the  darkening  sky  and  uttered  one  long  dis- 
mal howl  of  disappointment  and  rage. 

''Let's  try  it,"  said  Hillson,  sighting  his 
Winchester  at  the  beast ;  ''  he  deserves  death 
for  his  meanness." 

Palmer  was  more  than  willing,  and  he  also 
levelled  his  weapon  at  the  wolf,  which  was  in 
the  act  of  repeating  his  wail  when  both  guns 
were  discharged  at  the  same  moment. 

The  bullets  hit  him   fairly,  and  the  howl 


A  CRY  from:  the  darkness.  31 

which  was  issuing  from  his  throat  changed  to 
a  short  yelp,  as  he  leaped  straight  up  in 
air,  doubled  together  like  a  jack-knife,  and 
came  down  on  his  side,  rolling  over  several 
times,  and,  swinging  clear  of  his  support, 
came  sx)rawling  through  the  air  to  the  bottom 
of  the  gorge,  striking  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
suicidal  big-horn  and  as  devoid  of  life  as  he. 

By  this  time  the  sky  had  grown  so  dark 
that  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  a  storm  was 
at  hand.  Yivid  flashes  of  lightning  darted 
across  the  sky  which  spanned  the  ravine,  but 
it  was  seen  that  its  violence  would  be  spent 
further  in  the  mountains,  and  that  at  the 
worst  the  officers  would  receive  nothing  more 
than  a  severe  drenching — an  inconvenience 
which  they  had  learned  to  bear  with  equa- 
nimity. 

It  was  useless  to  turn  about  and  ride  down 
the  gorge,  for  they  were  fully  a  mile  from  the 
point  of  junction  with  the  mountain  trail, 
which,  if  reached,  would  afford  them  no  better 
shelter  than  they  could  obtain  where  they 
were. 

"I  don't  think  we  need  suffer  much,"  re- 


32  THE  PATH   IN  THE   RAVINE. 

marked  Hillson,  who  was  scanning  their  sur- 
roundings ;  "this  place  looks  as  if  it  can  give 
us  something  in  the  way  of  shelter." 

A  short  way  beyond  the  point  where  the  two 
carcasses  lay,  they  observed  an  inward  trend 
of  the  rocky  wall  on  their  right,  the  cav^* 
looking  extensive  enough  to  afford  protection 
for  their  animals  as  well  as  themselves  against 
the  rain,  provided  no  wind  drove  it  in  against 
them.  Such  a  gust  was  not  likely  to  be  en- 
countered at  the  bottom  of  the  gorge,  since 
there  was  scarcely  room  for  its  formation. 

Leaping  into  their  saddles,  they  guided 
their  horses  thither,  and  were  glad  enough  to 
find  the  refuge  better  than  it  appeared  at  first. 
They  dismounted  and  drove  their  ponies  as 
far  beneath  as  possible,  and  found  that  an 
immense  mass  of  rock,  hardly  twenty  feet 
above  their  heads,  projected  outward,  shelter- 
ing them  from  any  storm  that  might  come. 

"  I  think  this  is  the  place  to  make  our  camp 
for  the  night,"  remarked  Hillson,  after  survey- 
ing their  refuge. 

"  I  don't  believe  we  can  find  a  better  one," 
was  the  reply  of  Palmer,  equally  well  pleased ; 


A   CEY  FROM   THE  DARKNESS.  33 

''but  we  ought  to  have  fuel  to  last  us  through 
the  darkness." 

The  rain  had  not  yet  begun  falling,  though 
the  peals  of  thunder  were  almost  incessant, 
and  it  was  evident  it  was  descending  heavily 
^jgeper  in  the  mountains.  But  it  was  liable  to 
i;each  them  at  any  minute,  and  no  time  was  to 
be  lost. 

The  gathering  of  fuel  was  an  easy  matter. 
At  times  this  gorge  had  served  as  a  canon  or 
outlet  for  a  vast  amount  of  water  from  the 
heart  of  the  rugged  range,  which  had  brought 
trees,  limbs,  sticks,  and  debris  in  such  quanti- 
ties that  it  was  deposited  on  every  hand. 

Much  of  this  stuff  had  lain  so  long  exposed 
to  the  elements  that  it  was  as  dry  as  tinder 
wood.  Leaving  their  rifles  leaning  against  the 
rocks  by  their  ponies,  the  couple  began  col- 
lecting the  fuel  with  a  vigor  which  showed  they 
understood  the  value  of  time.  As  soon  as  one 
had  his  arms  full,  he  ran  to  the  spot  selected 
and  threw  it  to  the  ground.  This  was  con- 
tinued until  a  large  pile  was  gathered,  fully 
enough  to  last  them  till  daybreak,  even  if  kept 
burning  continually. 


34  THE  PxVTII   IN   THE   EAVINE. 

Here  and  there  at  the  sides,  and  in  the 
middle  of  the  gorge,  were  patches  of  grass 
which  their  i)onies  would  have  been  eager  to 
nibble,  but  they  did  not  wish  to  ex^^ose  them 
to  the  storm,  now  threatening  to  burst  at  any 
moment. 

The  youths,  therefore,  gave  their  energies 
to  plucking  the  grass  for  their  animals.  With 
the  time  at  their  disposal  they  secured  a 
goodly  quantity,  which,  if  not  as  much  as  the 
animals  could  have  disposed  of,  was  sufficient 
to  keep  them  from  suffering. 

The  friends  would  have  gathered  more  of 
the  succulent  grass,  but,  while  they  were  busy, 
great  drops  of  water  began  pattering  about 
them,  striking  the  rocks  with  a  noise  like 
splintering  hail.  They  skurried  to  shelter, 
and  feeling  they  had  done  all  that  was  pos- 
sible, calmly  awaited  the  breaking  of  the 
storm. 

It  i)roved  less  violent  than  was  expected. 
The  drops,  although  of  unusual  size  and  dart- 
ing downward  with  a  force  which  made  each 
one  audible,  were  not  numerous  nor  did  thev 
continue  long.     There  could  be  no  question. 


A  CRY   FROM  THE  DARKNESS.  35 

however,   that  the  floodgates  of  heaven  were 
opened  over  the  mountains  not  far  off. 

But  the  darkness  was  awe-inspiring.  It 
became  like  that  of  night  itself,  illumined  now 
and  then  by  vivid  flashes  of  lightning  which 
left  the  gloom  the  more  intense  because  of 
the  violent  contrast.  The  sun  was  so  low  in 
the  sky  that  had  there  been  no  clouding  of  its 
face  a  deep  twilight  would  have  reigned  in 
the  gorge,  and  it  was  now  relieved  only  by  the 
awful  electric  display  in  the  heavens. 

The  ponies  showed  their  indifference  to  the 
grandeur  of  the  display  by  calmly  munching 
the  fodder  that  had  been  laid  before  them, 
while  their  masters  stood  side  by  side,  their 
hats  in  their  hands,  silent,  admiring,  wonder- 
ing, and  adoring  the  source  of  all  this  amazing 
power. 

For  a  full  hour  there  was  no  diminution. 
Then  the  storm  subsided  almost  as  rapidly  as 
it  had  risen.  The  sullen  mutterings  of  tlie 
thunder  continued,  but  they  receded  until 
they  were  heard  only  now  and  then,  while  the 
flashes  were  so  much  weaker  that  they  only 
partly  lit  up  the  darkness  at  long  intervals. 


36  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

*' Since  niglit  is  here,"  suggested  Hillson, 
*'  it  is  a  good  time  to  start  a  camp  fire." 

*' The  idea  isn't  bad,"  replied  Palmer,  set- 
ting to  work  to  help  carry  out  the  advice. 

The  rude  shelter  proved  all  they  could  wish. 
I^ot  a  drop  ofmoisture  reached  man  or  animal, 
and  the  fuel,  therefore,  was  in  the  best  con- 
dition. It  required  only  a  few  minutes,  when 
a  cheery  blaze  was  kindled  against  the  back 
wall  and  its  rays  were  thrown  far  out  in  the 
surrounding  gloom,  revealing  the  couple  and 
their  horses  with  the  distinctness  of  mid-day. 

They  had  brought  a  lunch  with  them,  though 
it  would  be  supposed  that  in  such  a  fine 
hunting  country  they  ought  to  have  been  able 
to  rely  on  their  own  markmsanship. 

''It  strikes  me,"  remarked  Hillson,  while 
the  two  ate  their  bread  and  cold  meat,  "  that 
that  mutton  ought  to  be  palatable.  The  big- 
horn did  not  depart  this  life  in  the  fashion  we 
would  have  preferred,  but  it  ought  not  to 
make  much  difference,   after  all." 

''It  is  easy  enough  to  find  out,"  replied 
Palmer,  "for  the  body  isn't  far  off." 

Without  catching  up  his  rifle,  the  younger 


A   CRY   FROM  THE  DARKNESS.  37 

sprang  to  his  feet  and  walked  out  in  the  gorge. 
The  darkness  was  so  profound  that  he  coukl 
not  see  a  half-dozen  feet  from  him,  but  he 
knew  the  spot  so  well  that  he  was  confident  of 
making  his  way  to  it  without  hesitation  ;  but 
in  case  he  w^ent  astray,  he  could  strike  a 
match  to  guide  him  aright. 

The  moment  he  disappeared  Lieutenant 
Palmer  set  to  work  getting  things  ready  for 
broiling  the  meat,  wdiich  he  was  confident 
would  prove  toothsome  to  a  degree. 

'*  It  will  give  us  the  kind  of  meal  to  relish, 
for  Hillson  is  as  hungry  as  I  am,  and  I  am  so 
hungry  I  cannot  be  any  hungrier  ;  there  is 
nothing  like  this  bracing  mountain  air  to  give 
a  fellow  an  appetite  that  is  unknown  in  the 
effete  civilization  of  the  East "  ■ 

He  sprang  to  his  feet  as  if  shot,  for  at  that 
moment  the  cry  of  the  plucky  Hillson  rang 
out  with  startling    distinctness : 

''Quick,  Palmer!  your  gun!  don't  lose  a 
second ! " 


CHAPTER   V. 

STIPwRING    TIMES. 

IIEUTENANT  HILLSOj^  cannot  be  blamed 
^  for  leaving  tlie  camp  fire  in  the  dark  gorge 
for  sucli  a  brief  walk  without  carrjdng  his 
loaded  Winchester  with  him.  He  had  hunted 
often  enough  in  the  Bear  Paw  Mountains  to 
know  that  wild  men  and  animals  were  liable 
to  put  in  an  appearance  at  the  most  inoppor- 
tune times,  but  the  oldest  frontiersman  would 
have  done  just  as  he  did  under  the  circum- 
stances. 

He  left  the  camp  fire,  as  will  be  remembered, 
to  secure  a  portion  of  the  carcass  of  the  big- 
horn that  committed  suicide  a  short  time 
before.  The  spot  was  not  far  off,  and  he  made 
his  way  with  considerable  confidence,  but 
when  he  halted  at  the  place  where  he  sup- 
posed it  to  be,  he  was  disappointed. 

When  his  eyes  became  accustomed  to  the 
gloom  he  was  able  to  see  perhaps  eight  or  ten 

38 


STIRRING  TIMES.  39 

feet  from  liim.  He  was  hesitating  whether  to 
try  the  effect  of  a  match  held  over  his  head  or 
to  return  to  the  fire  for  a  brand,  when  he  was 
started  by  a  low  cavernous  growl,  not  in  front, 
but  directly  behind  him. 

Turning  his  head  like  a  flash,  he  saw  out- 
lined against  the  blazing  camp  fire  the  form 
of  the  most  gigantic  grizzly  bear  on  which  his 
eyes  had  ever  rested. 

The  lieutenant  comi)rehended  the  situation 
at  once.  He  had  j^assed  by  the  carcass  of  the 
big-horn,  to  which  Old  Ephraim  had  been  at- 
tracted, and  the  monster  paid  no  attention  to 
him  until  he  began  groping  for  the  meat.  This 
brought  him  so  near  the  bear  that  the  latter 
was  angered,  and,  ceasing  his  feast  for  a  mo- 
ment, proceeded  to  attack  the  lieutenant  with 
vigor. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Hillson  called 
for  re-enforcements,  and  the  startled  Palmer 
caught  up  his  rifle  and  dashed  to  his  help. 

The  latter  was  under  an  almost  fatal  disad- 
vantage for  the  space  of  a  few  seconds.  He 
had  been  engaged  in  preparing  the  fire  for 
broiling  the  mutton  which  he  expected  his 


40  THE  PATH  IN  THE   EAVINE. 

companion  to  bring  to  the  spot  in  the  conrse 
of  a  few  minutes.  The  glare  of  the  blaze  and 
coals  in  his  eyes  made  him  literally  blind 
when  he  wheeled  and  ran  to  the  aid  of 
Hillson, 

Since  the  younger  officer  was  further  out  in 
the  gorge  than  either  his  friend  or  the  bear, 
the  movements  of  the  two  were  plainly  shown 
against  the  background  of  the  fire.  Hillson 
could  hardly  expect  to  know  the  curious 
danger  in  which  Palmer  was  placed  because  of 
the  glare  in  his  eyes,  but  he  was  astonished 
when  he  saw  him  run  straight  toward  the  bear 
without  raising  his  rifle  to  fire. 

The  fact  w^as  Palmer  could  not  see  the 
brute,  though  the  latter  and  Hillson  saw  him 
plainly. 

''Look  out!"  called  his  friend,  beginning 
to  suspect  something  was  wrong ;  ''  he'll  have 
you!" 

Palmer  was  on  the  point  of  stopping,  w^hen 
his  foot  struck  one  of  the  bowlders,  and  in 
stumbling  he  was  forced  to  drop  his  rifle  to 
save  himself  from  injury. 

"Confound  it!"   he  called,    ''I  can't  see 


STIRRING  TIMES.  41 

anytliing,  Hillson  ;  get  your  gun  and  give  liim 
a  shot!" 

Hillson  would  have  been  eager  to  do  tliis 
had  not  the  appeal  of  his  friend  frightened 
him.  If  he  should  run  to  camp,  now  some 
distance  off,  the  grizzly  was  likely  to  kill 
Palmer  before  he  could  return.  The  true 
course,  it  would  seem,  was  to  secure  the  gun 
of  Palmer  and  use  that  upon  him.  Mean- 
while, each  had  his  revolver  at  command. 

Drawing  the  latter  weapon  (in  which  it  must 
be  confessed  he  had  little  faith),  Hillson 
opened  on  the  monster,  more  with  the  hope  of 
frightening  him  off  than  of  doing  him  any 
harm.  At  the  same  time,  with  the  aid  of  the 
light  from  the  camp  fire,  he  saw  that  Palmer 
had  fallen  to  the  ground.  He  knew,  however, 
that  such  being  the  case  was  no  evidence  that 
he  had  lost  his  self-command,  unless  he  had 
been  stunned  by  the  mishap. 

The  grizzly  was  pushing  things.  Those  vast 
creatures,  when  once  roused,  fear  nothing  on 
earth.  He  was  quietly  banqueting  on  moun- 
tain mutton  when  he  perceived  the  figure  of  a 
man  passing  by  in  the  gloom.    The  brute  was 


42  THE  PATH   IN   THE   EAVINE. 

ready  to  receive  liim,  but  inasmuch  as  he  con- 
tinued on,  he  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to 
stop  his  feasting  to  disclose  of  him. 

But  when  Hillson,  not  satisfied  with  being- 
left  alone,  turned  about  and  aj^proached,  the 
grizzly  raised  his  bloody  snout  from  the  meal 
and  warned  him  off  by  his  growl.  The  brute 
might  have  suspended  hostilities  had  not  a 
second  intruder  put  in  an  appearance  at 
this  juncture  with  a  gun.  That  was  too 
much,  and,  as  has  already  been  shown,  the 
grizzly  went  for  the  second  arrival  with  a 
vim  and  vigor  that  could  not  have  been  sur- 
passed. 

Like  the  ordinary  black  bear,  he  rose  partly 
on  his  haunches,  and  reached  out  his  beam- 
like paws  to  gather  the  young  officer  to  his 
embraces,  when  the  latter  stumbled  and  went 
forward  on  his  hands  and  knees. 

Palmer  showed  a  quickness  of  resource 
which  would  have  done  credit  to  a  veteran 
frontiersman,  for,  knowing  the  imminence  of 
his  peril,  he  avoided  the  fatal  mistake  of  rising 
directly  to  his  feet.  Instead  of  that,  he  rolled 
to  the  right  with  the  quickness  of  an  acrobat, 


STIRKING  TIMES.  43 

and,  turning  on  liis  hands,  held  a  cronching 
posture  until  he  could  run  several  x)aces  before 
standing  ux)riglit. 

This  was  quick  work,  but  it  compelled 
him  to  give  up  his  gun,  for  had  he  stopped  to 
grope  around  for  that,  the  mountainous  body 
would  have  descended  upon  him  like  an  ava- 
lanche. 

Palmer  did  not  forget,  too,  that  his  pistol 
was  with  him  ;  for,  while  Hillson  was  popping 
away,  he  joined  in  the  fusillade,  w^hich  became 
of  the  liveliest  character,  though  it  served  no 
more  as  a  deterrent  than  a  bombardment  of 
pebbles. 

"Why  don't  you  use  your  Winchester?" 
called  Hillson,  thinking  his  friend  had  for- 
gotten himself  for  the  moment. 

"  I  haven't  got  it  to  use  ;  I  think  the  bear 
is  going  to  open  fire  with  it." 

Understanding  from  this  that  the  brute  was 
too  near  the  weapon  for  it  to  be  recovered  just 
then,  Hillson  made  a  dash  for  the  camp  fire  to 
secure  his  own,  calling  to  his  friend  to  retreat 
in  the  same  direction  until  matters  took  better 
form  for  them. 


44  THE  PATH  IIS"  THE  EAVIIS^E. 

No  time  was  to  be  lost,  and  the  space  to  be 
travelled  was  so  brief  that  Hillson  was  at  the 
camp  the  next  moment. 

Matters  there  were  not  in  the  most  pleasing 
shape.  The  horses  were  quick  to  snnff  dan- 
ger, probably  learning  of  the  presence  of  the 
grizzly  as  soon  as  did  their  owners.  The 
ponies  were  not  tied,  and  when  Hillson  looked 
around  without  seeing  them,  he  did  not  need 
to  be  told  what  it  meant.  They  had  fled  in 
the  darkness. 

''But  they  will  be  back,"  he  reflected,  re- 
membering how  well  they  were  trained,  though 
he  could  not  lose  sight  of  the  probability  that 
they  too  might  become  involved  in  danger. 

But  the  minutes  were  too  precious  to  give 
any  thought  to  them.  Palmer  had  changed 
places  with  Hillson,  and  himself  was  in  urgent 
need  of  re-enforcements. 

There  was  one  fact  in  favor  of  the  young 
officers — the  grizzly  was  not  in  need  of  addi- 
tional supper,  though  his  enormous  capacity 
in  the  eating  line  would  have  enabled  him  to 
use  one  of  the  West  Pointers  as  a  dessert  to 
the  main  meal  upon  the  big-horn  and  wolf. 


STIRRING  TIMES.  46 

The  fact  that  such  a  tempting  carcass  awaited 
him  on  the  ground,  only  a  few  feet  away, 
somewhat  restrained  his  fierceness,  else  Lieu- 
tenant Palmer  might  not  have  escaped  so  easily 
after  his  fall  in  front  of  the  brute. 

A  number  of  the  pistol  shots  must  have 
struck  him,  and  they  roused  the  dormant  fury 
of  his  nature.  He  felt  the  smarts,  and  could 
not  fail  to  know  that  the  young  men  near  him 
were  the  guilty  ones. 

The  flashing  of  the  weapons  and  their  sharp 
reports,  almost  in  his  eyes,  bewildered  him 
slightly,  though  they  could  not  divert  his 
attack.  He  had  set  out  to  make  mince  meat 
of  Lieutenant  Palmer  of  the  United  States 
Army,  and  he  allowed  no  other  business  to 
tarn  him  aside. 

By  the  time  this  curious  pursuit  had  fairly 
begun,  Palmer  was  fast  regaining  his  eyesight. 
Everyone  knows  that  the  pupil  of  the  eye 
quickly  accommodates  itself  to  the  violent 
contrasts  of  light  and  darkness,  though  it  can- 
not do  so  instantaneously. 

It  would  have  required  a  nimble  man  to 
elade  the  grizzly  when  the  advantages  w^ere 


46  THE  PATH  IN"  THE  EAVI]S"E. 

equal,  but  the  fugitive  was  better  placed  tlian 
his  i^ursuer. 

A  friendly  bowlder  was  turned  to  good 
account  by  Palmer,  who  deftly  interposed  it 
between  him  and  his  cumbrous  foe.  The 
latter,  in  his  eagerness  to  reach  him,  tried  to 
clamber  over  the  obstruction.  The  clatter  of 
his  immense  nails  against  the  flinty  surface 
gave  the  young  officer  a  vivid  idea  of  what  his 
fate  would  be  if  the  huge  brute  but  once  got 
him  in  his  power. 

He  had  emi)tied  his  revolver  into  him  with 
no  effect  other  than  that  already  named.  The 
animal's  wrath  was  intensified,  and  he  pushed 
his  assault  like  a  giant  blinded  by  his  own 
fury. 

Palmer  did  not  dare  resort  to  a  direct  flight, 
for  the  bear  could  travel  faster  than  he — his 
only  hope  being  that  of  dodging  him  nntil 
Hillson  brought  his  Winchester  into  play.  It 
seemed  to  him  the  lieutenant  was  a  long  while 
in  getting  into  action,  but  the  seconds  are 
unusually  long  at  such  times,  and  the  gloom 
kept  his  friend  from  nsiug  his  weapon  until 
sure  of  not  injuring  Palmer  himself. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE    CAMP  FIRE    IN    THE    GOEGE. 

THE  situation  was  iDecnliar.  So  long  as 
Lieutenant  Hillson  could  hold  the  bear 
and  Palmer  between  him  and  the  camp  fire,  he 
was  able  to  distinguish  their  movements  with 
tolerable  accuracy,  but,  in  the  furious  pursuit 
and  flight,  this  could  not  continue.  Besides, 
Hillson  was  in  a  state  of  terror  lest  his  com- 
panion, through  some  slip  or  mishap,  should 
be  seized  before  he  could  interpose. 

Matters  were  going  with  a  rush,  and  the 
impetuosity  of  Hillson  brought  about  the  very 
misfortune  he  dreaded  for  the  other.  He 
came  down  to  a  walk  and,  believing  he  saw  a 
chance  for  a  fair  shot,  raised  his  Winchester, 
and  was  in  the  act  of  sighting  when  he  caught 
his  foot  under  a  flat  stone  and  fell  headlong 
before  he  could  check  himself. 

The  rifle  was  not  only  discharged,  but  it  was 
knocked  from  his  hand,  so  that  his  fall  was 


47 


48  THE  PATn  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

tlie  same  as  the  one  wliicli  overtook  Palmer  a 
few  minutes  before. 

*'  Confound  it ! "  he  muttered,  "  it  seems  as 
if  the  fates  are  against  us." 

'^Take  better  aim  next  time!"  called 
Palmer  ;  "•  your  bullet  nipped  my  cheek,  and 
don't  wait  so  long,  for  this  is  getting  warm." 

Fortunately  the  rifle  had  fallen  within 
reach,  and,  before  rising,  Hillson  had  it  in  his 
hands  again.  He  saw  the  grizzly  only  a  short 
way  off,  and,  balancing  himself  on  one  knee, 
he  took  careful  aim  and  pulled  the  trigger. 

But  no  answering  report  followed.  To  his 
dismay  he  found  that  the  weapon  had  been  so 
injured  by  the  fall  that  it  was  useless.  But 
for  that  he  was  confident  he  would  have 
brought  down  the  beast  with  a  single  ball. 
Hoping  he  was  mistaken,  he  tried  again,  but 
in  vain. 

''  My  gun  is  broken,"  he  called  to  his  friend  ; 
*^work  your  way  back  to  camp,  for  I  can't 
help  you !  " 

''Get  there  ahead  of  me,"  replied  Palmer, 
*'  and  try  fire  on  him." 

Hillson    followed   the  suggestion    on    the 


THE  CAMP  FIRE  IN  THE  GORGE.  49 

instant.  He  dashed  to  tlie  burning  fagots, 
dropped  his  gun,  quickly  drew  out  a  torch, 
and  circling  it  above  his  head,  fanned  it  into 
a  vigorous  blaze. 

This  was  done  on  the  run,  as  may  be  said, 
for  he  did  not  stop  the  vigorous  circling  until 
he  was  almost  upon  the  brute.  The  glare  of 
the  torch  gave  him  enough  light  to  save  his 
falling  while  in  such  haste. 

He  could  not  have  arrived  more  opportunely. 
Palmer  was  almost  exhausted,  and  he  had 
had  more  than  one  escape  which  could  not 
have  been  narrower.  Once,  he  actually  felt 
the  tip  of  a  long  claw  against  his  face,  and  he 
repeated  the  prayer  that  had  been  on  his  lips 
more  than  once  since  being  pressed  so  hard. 

Hillson  took  all  possible  chances,  and  halt- 
ing, jammed  the  flaming  torch  almost  into  the 
eyes  of  the  grizzly.  This  was  a  terror  which 
neither  he  nor  any  quadruped  can  stand.  It 
did  that  which  the  Winchesters  could  not  be 
made  to  do.  It  frightened  him  into  a  sullen 
withdrawal,  leaving  the  young  officers  safe 
for  the  time. 

As  soon  as  it  was  seen  that  he  had  retreated, 

4 


50  THE  PATH   IN   THE   RAVINE. 

tliongli  lie  was  likely  to  return  to  the  attack 
at  any  moment,  Palmer  made  a  break  for  tlie 
camp  fire,  calling  to  Hillson  to  do  the  same. 
The  latter  was  but  a  moment  behind  him. 

Before  sj^eaking,  the  elder  threw  a  lot  of  fuel 
on  the  flames,  which  quickly  spread  until  their 
glare  reached  far  out  in  the  gorge,  showing 
numerous  bowlders  and  rocks,  though  the 
grizzly  was  beyond  the  circle  of  illumination. 

"I  say,  Hillson,"  said  the  panting  lieuten- 
ant, "  what  is  your  opinion  of  hunting  grizzly 
bears?" 

Hillson  looked  behind  him  to  make  sure  the 
particular  specimen  which  had  caused  all  this 
rumpus  was  not  within  sight,  before  replying : 

''Well,  when  you  get  fairly  into  it,  things 
are  apt  to  move  lively." 

"  That's  the  hottest  game  of  hide  and  seek 
I  ever  played  ;  I  can't  understand,  even  now, 
how  I  managed  to  dodge  him  so  long." 

"It  must  have  been  because  of  his  size  ;  I 
don't  believe  there  is  a  bigger  bear  in  the  whole 
West ;  had  he  been  smaller  he  would  have  been 
nimble  enough  to  nail  me  at  first,  and  then 
serve  you  the  same  way." 


THE  CAMP  FIRE  IN  THE  GORGE.      51 


a 


I  wonder  whether  he  will  bother  us  any 
more,"  said  Palmer,  peering  into  the  gloom  ; 
"  I  don't  see  anything  of  him." 

"He  may  come  nosing  around,  but  the  fire 
is  our  salvation;  he  can't  stand  that,  audit's 
mighty  lucky  that  we  collected  enough  fuel  to 
last  us  through  the  night." 

"  I  hope  he  won't  get  at  the  horses,  for  they 
are  not  far  off  ;  one  would  think  that  the  car- 
casses of  the  big-horn  and  wolf  would  give 
him  abundant  sux)per  without  demolishing  a 
pony." 

"  He's  big  enough  to  devour  both,"  was  the 
disgusted  remark  of  Hillson  ;  "and,  when  we 
had  the  best  chance  in  the  world  to  bag  the 
monarch  of  all'  grizzlies,  we  must  have  that 
awkward  blunder  with  both  our  guns  ;  it's 
too  bad." 

He  picked  up  his  rifle  as  he  spoke,  and  with 
a  furtive  glance  or  two  behind  him,  examined 
it  by  the  light  of  the  camp  fire.  He  found,  to 
his  consternation,  that  it  could  never  be  used 
again  until  repaired.  The  spring  was  broken. 
It  could  easily  be  put  in  shape  by  the  ord- 
nance department  at  the  fort,  but  so  far  as 


52  THE  PATH   IN  THE  KAVINE. 

present  purposes  were  concerned,  it  was  of  no 
more  account  than  a  w^alking  cane. 

*'Mine  is  all  right,"  remarked  Palmer,  after 
the  extent  of  the  injury  was  seen,  "but  it  is 
lost  and  will  stay  lost  till  daybreak." 

''  I  think  we  can  find  it  with  the  help  of  a 
torch,  for  you  know  where  you  dropped  it." 

"  I  am  not  sure  of  that,"  said  Palmer  doubt- 
ingly  ;  *'  the  old  fellow  stirred  me  up  so  much 
that  I  hadn't  much  chance  of  keeping  track 
of  my  latitude  and  longitude." 

''It's  worth  trying,  anyway;  I  shan't  be 
satisfied  till  I've  closed  accounts  with  that 
grizzly." 

Palmer  went  with  him,  and,  after  standing 
still  a  minute  or  two  to  decide,  as  well  as  he 
could,  the  right  direction,  he  pointed  it  out 
and  his  friend  moved  cautiously  forward, 
swinging  the  torch  at  intervals  over  his  head. 

''This  is  quite  near  the  spot,  though  I  may 
be  wrong." 

Holding  the  light  aloft,  they  peered  into  the 
illuminated  space  with  a  keenness  which 
would  have  revealed  a  pocket-knife  lying  on  the 
ground  ;  but  the  rifle  was  nowhere  in  sight. 


THE  CAMP  FIRE  IN  THE  GORGE.      53 

While  looking  for  tliat  which  they  were  so 
anxious  to  find,  they  kept  a  sharp  look-out 
also  for  that  which  they  had  no  wish  to  dis- 
cover. The  bear  could  not  be  far  off,  and  the 
prosx)ects  of  stumbling  over  him,  even  with 
the  torch  as  a  protection,  was  not  coveted  by 
either. 

The  search  was  not  without  its  amusing 
features.  Palmer  kept  so  close  to  his  compan- 
ion that  he  sometimes  interfered  with  his 
progress,  his  theory  being  that,  inasmuch  as 
the  blazing  fagot  was  their  only  protection,  it 
should  be  equally  shared. 

''Quick!"  suddenly  whispered  the  elder; 
"  the  torch  is  going  out." 

Hillson  realized  the  alarming  fact  as  quickly 
as  his  friend,  and  swung  the  stick  with  might 
and  main.  The  fact  was  it  had  already  burned 
itself  so  nearly  out  that  not  enough  body  was 
left  to  feed  the  flame.  The  eiforts  to  renew  it 
were  useless. 

''There  Tie  comes !''^  cried  out  Palmer, 
scrambling  for  the  cam})  with  the  terrified 
Hillson  tumbling  over   him. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  despite  the  speed  made 


54  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

on  tlieir  former  essays  in  the  same  direction, 
this  surpassed  them  all.  'No  one  could  have 
made  the  passage  quicker  than  they. 

**I  should  have  said,"  remarked  Palmer, 
as  the  two  looked  in  each  other's  faces  and 
laughed,  ''that  the  bear  was  likely  to  be 
coming  ;  I  was  not  strictly  correct  in  declaring 
that  he  had  started  and  was  on  the  way." 

"  Much  allowance  must  be  made  for  a  fellow 
half  scared  to  death." 

''I  was  imi3ressed  with  tJiat  truth  when 
you  first  yelled  for  me  to  go  to  your  help," 
replied  Palmer. 

But  both  could  afford  to  make  merry  over 
their  misadventure,  for,  though  it  had  not 
resulted  very  creditably  to  themselves,  they 
were  lucky  to  escape  without  wounds  or 
injury. 

They  decided  that  it  was  imprudent  to  make 
any  further  hunt  for  the  gun  until  daylight. 
The  situation  was  not  pleasant,  since  they 
would  be  forced  to  spend  the  night  with 
no  fire-arms  besides  their  revolvers,  which 
amounted  to  little  against  a  bear  of  the  size 
and  strength  of  the  one  with  which  they  had 


THE  CAMP  FIRE  IN  THE  GORGE.      55 

collided.  They  were  not  without  hope  that 
the  grizzly  would  be  found  in  the  vicinity 
when  the  sun  rose,  and  they  could  make  a 
more  scientific  hunt  for  him. 

The  only  thing  that  remained  to  do  was  to 
see  that  the  fire  burned  briskly  until  morning. 
So  long  as  that  protection  existed,  they  had 
nothing  to  fear  from  the  bear,  nor  indeed  from 
any  other  wild  beast  disposed  to  make  them 
a  call. 

The  matter  was  easily  arranged.  Hillson 
agreed  to  stand  guard  until  one  o'clock,  when 
he  would  arouse  his  companion  and  they 
would  exchange  places.  It  was  so  easy  for 
either  to  hold  his  senses  for  a  few  hours,  that 
no  fear  was  felt  of  falling  asleep.  The  true 
course  would  have  been  for  the  sentinel  to 
continue  walking  back  and  forth  in  front  of 
the  flames,  pausing  only  when  it  was  necessary 
to  throw  wood  upon  them.  This  would  have 
insured  perfect  protection;  but  since  the 
watch  was  to  be  quite  equally  divided,  neither 
felt  any  misgiving  of  the  consequences. 

The  officers  had  brought  a  blanket  apiece, 
but  unfortunately  they  were  strapped  behind 


5Q  THE  PATH  IN  THE   RAVINE. 

the  saddles  of  tlieir  horses,  which  had  not 
been  removed  before  the  grizzly  interfered 
with  the  arrangements.  However,  the  warmth 
reflected  from  the  flinty  wall  behind  the  flames, 
that  were  kept  going  vigorously,  was  strong 
enough  to  ward  off  the  chill,  which  otherwise 
would  have  been  too  great  to  admit  of  sleeping 
with  comfort. 

A  quantity  of  the  dried  branches  and  drift- 
wood was  adjusted  so  as  to  make  a  fair  couch 
for  Palmer,  who  managed  to  get  himself  into 
an  easy  X30sture,  after  which  he  bade  his 
friend  good-night,  instructing  him  to  call  him 
on  time  to  take  his  place  as  sentinel. 

Hillson  waited  for  some  minutes  after  all 
was  still,  when  he  pronounced  the  name  of 
the  other  several  times.  Receiving  no  reply, 
he  concluded  he  was  asleep  and  gave  him  no 
further  thought.  His  watch  showed  that  it 
was  only  a  few  minutes  past  nine,  and  he  had 
a  long,  wearisome  wait  before  him,  but  he 
preferred  that  it  should  come  during  the  first 
instead  of  the  latter  part  of  the  night. 

''  We  have  done  this  thing  before,"  was  his 
thought,  *'and  we  ought  to  understand  it." 


THE   CAMP  FIRE  IN  THE   GORGE.  57 

The  scene  was  impressive  to  the  last  degree. 
The  darkness  was  profound,  and  from  his 
IDhxce  on  the  ground  he  could  see  nothing  that 
lay  outside  the  circle  of  illumination  of  the 
the  camj)  fire.  Looking  ni^ward  at  the  sky 
spanning  the  gloomy  gorge,  he  observed  a 
single  star  shining  from  the  heavenly  arch 
wliich  was  not  yet  freed  from  the  clouds  that 
had  drenched  the  earth. 

From  some  point,  deeper  in  the  mountains, 
came  the  wail  of  a  wild  animal,  rising  and 
falling  on  the  stillness  with  a  dismal,  weird 
effect  which  caused  Hillson  to  fling  more  wood 
on  the  flames  and  to  look  at  his  revolver, 
which  he  held  ready  for  instant  use.  A  gentle 
wind  at  times  soughed  through  the  ravine,  the 
peculiar  tunnel-like  passage  giving  it  a  soft- 
ened roar  like  that  of  the  ocean  when  it 
reaches  the  ear  through  the  miles  of  intervene 
ing  forest. 

K'ow  and  then  the  lieutenant  started  and 
glanced  apprehensively  into  the  very  blackness 
of  darkness,  fancying  he  detected  the  elex)han- 
tine  form  of  the  grizzly  with  whom  they  had 
held    their   stirring  interview  earlier   in    the 


58  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

evening.  Hillson  edged  a  little  nearer  tlie  fire, 
his  chivalry  for  his  friend  causing  him  to 
maintain  the  blaze  as  near  him  as  it  could  be 
done  without  discomfort. 

But,  though  he  used  his  keen  vision  at  its 
best,  he  saw  nothing  of  their  dreaded  foe,  nor 
did  the  first  cavernous  growl  show  that  he 
was  anywhere  near. 

''He  may  be  lurking  out  there,"  thought 
Hillson,  "but  we  have  only  to  stay  close  to 
the  fire  to  be  safe.  After  the  experience 
Palmer  and  I  have  had  we  can't  forget  to  do 
that,  but,"  he  added  with  a  look  of  ]3erplex- 
ity,  "  it  seems  to  me  there  is  something  strange 
about  that  roar  that  has  been  in  my  ears  so 
long." 


CHAPTER  yil. 

THE  MOUNTAIN  FLOOD. 

WE  have  referred  to  a  dull  roaring  sound 
which  resembled  that  of  the  distant 
ocean.  It  had  been  heard  by  the  officers  from 
the  time  they  had  dismounted  to  go  into  camp 
in  this  lonely  place,  and  at  first  they  gave 
little  heed  to  it. 

But  Lieutenant  Hillson  was  mystified  by  the 
fact  that  the  sound  was  increasing,  not  only 
steadily  but  with  unmistakable  rax)idity.  He 
could  not  understand  what  it  meant,  and  yet 
it  was  strange  that  the  nature  of  the  approach- 
ing peril  was  not  suspected  from  the  first. 

''It  may  be  a  cyclone  or  hurricane  cavorting 
among  the  mountains  above  us,"  he  thought ; 
"and,  if  so,  we  have  nothing  to  fear,  for  no 
cyclone  that  ever  desolated  a  country  can  over- 
turn oz^r  house." 

And  he  looked  upward  at  the  vast  mass  of 
stone  arching  out  over  them,  and  felt  that  it 

59 


60  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

must  stand  until  the  last  great  day,  unless  dis- 
placed by  some  convulsion  of  nature  such  as 
originally  sj)lit  the  mountain  range  apart. 

But  the  explanation  suggested  by  Hillson  to 
himself  could  not  satisfy  him.  He  rose  to  his 
feet  and  walked  a  few  paces  into  the  gorge, 
taking  care  to  keep  within  the  light  from  the 
camp  fire,  and,  standing  thus,  he  looked  and 
listened. 

Eyesight  was  of  no  use  at  such  a  time,  and 
for  a  while  the  ear  was  unable  to  interpret  the 
uproar,  swelling  rapidly  into  an  overwhelming 
volume  of  sound. 

He  was  becoming  alarmed.  It  seemed  as  if 
the  cool  autumn  air  was  taking  upon  itself  a 
greater  degree  of  cold  in  which  there  was  a 
marked  dampness.  He  was  inclined  to  awaken 
Palmer,  who  might  be  able  to  tell  what  it 
meant,  but  he  asked  himself  in  what  possible 
way  it  could  threaten  either,  and  why  he 
should  break  the  slumber  of  his  friend,  who 
needed  the  rest. 

This  uneasiness  increased,  until  he  abruptly 
stepped  to  where  Palmer  was  lying  and  shook 
his  shoulder. 


THE  MOUNTAIlSr  FLOOD.  61 

**Wake  lip!"  he  called.  "It  won't  do  to 
sleep  longer." 

The  elder  roused  on  the  instant,  and  sup- 
porting his  head  on  his  elbow,  looked  across 
in  the  firelight. 

"  What's  the  matter?"  he  asked. 

*'  I  can't  tell,  but  something  strange  is  going 
on  ;  do  you  hear  that  roar  ? ' ' 

*'I  should  say  I  did,"  replied  Palmer, 
springing  to  his  feet ;  "  what  does  it  mean  ? " 

"  That's  what  I've  been  trying  to  figure  out. 
but  can't." 

The  two  stood  beside  each  other  for  a  full 
minute  without  speaking  or  stirring.  Mean- 
while the  alarming  sound  deepened  until  it 
resembled  the  sweep  of  a  strong  wind  through 
a  great  forest.  Palmer  had  noticed  the  in- 
creasing chilliness  in  the  air,  and  referred  to 
it  as  ominous.  The  wind  was  rising,  too  ;  this 
added  to  their  alarm. 

"I  don't  know  why  we  need  have  any 
fear,"  said  the  elder,  whose  words  and  manner 
were  not  those  of  a  man  who  felt  secure  ;  "for 
it  cannot  be  anything  that  will  disturb  us." 

"If  it  did  not  grow  louder  so  fast  I  would 


62  THE   PATH   IN   THE   RAVINE. 

be  sure  it  was  a  strong  gale  in   the    woods 
above  us,  but ^' 

"Hillson,"  interrupted  the  other,  catching 
his  arm,  ^^tliat  sounds  like  water  !  " 

"So  it  is,  Pahner!  Great  Heaven,  we  are 
doomed ! " 

*'  So  we  are  !  a  stream  like  l^iagara  is  sweep- 
ing down  this  gorge  upon  us  !  " 

The  couple  might  well  stand  appalled,  for 
there  was  no  longer  a  doubt  of  the  meaning  of 
the  fearful  roar  which  was  now  swelled  to  an 
overpowering  volume.  A  prodigious  torrent 
was  charging  down  the  gorge  with  resistless 
m.omentum.  No  human  i30wer  could  with- 
stand it,  and  there  was  no  refuge  whither  they 
might  fly. 

The  mountain  trail  was  a  mile  away,  and 
had  they  been  borne  by  a  lightning  express, 
they  could  not  have  reached  the  outlet  ahead 
of  that  awful  rush  of  waters.  The  walls  of 
rock  rose  on  either  side  for  hundreds  of  feet, 
and  they  were  without  the  means  of  scaling 
their  perpendicular  faces,  even  had  they  pos- 
sessed x)recious  minutes  sufficient  to  reach  the 
top. 


THE  MOUNTAIN  FLOOD.  63 

But  they  confronted  their  fate  like  the 
young  heroes  they  were,  displaying  a  coolness 
that  could  not  have  been  surpassed. 

"It's  no  use  trying  to  fight  the  torrent," 
said Hillson,  "but  we  can  make  some  jDrepara- 
tion." 

Palmer  knew  what  he  meant,  and  instantly 
began  throwing  off  his  surplus  clothing,  even 
to  his  hat,  though  they  retained  their  shoes. 
No  attempt  was  made  to  save  the  single  Win- 
chester within  reach,  though  each  retained  his 
revolver,  whose  weight  was  too  slight  to  affect 
them  one  way  or  the  other. 

"When  it  comes,  we  will  simply  go  with  it 
and  trust  to  Heaven  to  save  us." 

"Of  course  we  will  go  with  it^^''  grimly 
replied  the  elder,  "for  how  can  we  help  doing 
so?" 

The  fire  still  burned  vigorously,  the  blaze, 
fanned  by  the  strong  wind  which  rushed  down 
the  ravine  ahead  of  the  torrent,  producing  a 
perceptible  effect.  In  the  hope  that  it  might 
be  safer  near  the  middle  of  the  gorge  than 
at  the  sides,  they  hastily  moved  thither,  until 
they  were  so  far  out  as  to  be  only  dimly 


64  THE  PATH  IN   THE  RAVINE. 

visible  to  each  other  in  the  faint  light  of  the 
camp  fire. 

The  brave  youths  formed  a  dramatic  picture 
as  they  stood  side  by  side  in  tbe  gloom  of  the 
gorge,  dimly  outlined  in  the  yellow  light 
beneath  the  shelving  rocks  beyond  them,  as  it 
was  fanned  by  the  gale  sweeping  down  the 
ravine.  Their  hair  was  blown  about  their 
temples ;  for,  like  the  soldier  condemned  to 
death  by  shooting,  they  resolutely  looked  into 
the  face  of  the  approaching  peril,  as  though 
they  welcomed  their  fate,  even  when  it  came 
in  such  terrible  form. 

For  a  few  seconds  neither  spoke.  The 
reader  must  bear  in  mind  that  events  were 
sweeping  past  with  hurricane  swiftness.  Some- 
where up  in  the  mountains  beyond,  the  tre- 
mendous rainfall  of  the  evening  had  gathered 
and  accumulated  until,  like  that  reservoir 
suspended  so  long  over  the  doomed  Pennsjd- 
vania  valley,  it  burst  all  barriers  and  rushed 
downward,  carrying  destruction  and  death  in 
its  trail. 

Had  they  but  taken  warning  of  the  peril 
to  which  they  were  exposed  as  long  as  they 


THE  MOUNTAIN   FLOOD.  65 

stayed  in  the  gorge,  after  the  fall  of  the  rain 
in  the  mountains,  they  might  have  escaped  by 
fleeing  with  all  haste  down  the  ravine  to  the 
narrow  passage  where  they  left  the  mountain 
trail ;  but  the  fear  never  entered  the  thoughts 
of  either,  until  long  after  all  hopie  in  that 
direction  was  cut  off. 

**Good-by,  Russ ! " 

*'Good-by,  Al,  old  boy!'' 

The  two  clasped .  hands,  the  warm  palms 
tightly  closed,  as  if  each  instinctively  felt  that 
it  was  the  last  time  the  loving  greeting  could 
ever  be  known  between  them. 

And  they  stood  thus  in  affectionate  embrace 
when  the  awful  avalanche  of  water  came ! 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

WITH    THE  TORRENT. 

THE  brief  farewell,  in  the  words  given,  was 
all  that  passed  between  Lieutenants  Hill- 
son  and  Palmer,  but,  though  neither  had  said 
anything  to  that  effect,  each  was  resolved  to 
hold  fast  to  the  hand  of  the  other  in  the  final 
struggle  with  death  that  was  upon  them. 

They  might  as  well  have  tried  to  ride  upon 
the  cyclone,  for  at  the  first  smiting  of  the  ap- 
palling torrent  they  were  swept  apart  as  if  by 
the  explosion  of  a  bomb  between  their  feet. 
The  fire,  which  up  to  that  moment  permitted 
them  to  see  faintly  each  other's  forms,  was 
extinguished  and  all  was  blank  darkness. 

Both  of  the  young  men  were  jiowerful  swim- 
mers, and  their  acts  were  instinctively  the  best 
that  could  have  taken  place.  The  instant  they 
felt  the  water  upon  them  they  drew  in  a  deep 
respiration,  and,  refraining  from  wasting  their 

66 


WITH  THE   TOEKENT.  67 

strength  by  fighting  the  current,  tried  hard  to 
keep  their  heads  above  the  surface. 

It  was  at  this  crisis  that  each  heard,  above 
the  frightful  rush  and  roar,  a  sound  such  as 
never  struck  upon  their  ears  before,  and  such 
as,  it  is  safe  to  say,  they  couki  never  hear  again. 
It  was  the  cry  of  the  grizzly  bear  when  he  felt 
himself  in  the  grasp  of  death,  for  which  he 
cared  naught  in  any  other  form.  The  hoarse, 
rasping  shriek,  with  tremendous  depth  and 
volume,  was  fearful  enough  to  impress  itself 
upon  both  youths,  at  the  moment  they  believed 
brought  their  own  last  struggle. 

Lieutenant  Palmer  was  as  helpless  in  the 
rush  as  a  feather  in  the  maelstrom  below  Ni- 
agara. He  knew  he  was  borne  down  the  ra- 
vine with  a  speed  which,  if  it  should  dash 
him  against  the  rocky  sides,  would  instantly 
kill  him.  It  may  be  said  that,  after  finding 
he  was  not  overwhelmed  and  drowned  by  the 
first  rush,  he  expected  to  lose  his  life  in  this 
way. 

Possibly  it  was  fortunate  for  Palmer  and  his 
friend  that  the  first  contact  of  the  water  was 
of    such  prodigious  volume   that  they  were 


68  THE  PATH   IN  THE   RAVINE. 

lifted  bodily  from  the  ground  and  borne  to  a 
lieiglit  of  fifty  feet  above  it,  for,  had  it  been 
less,  they  could  not  have  escaped  being  dashed 
against  some  one  of  the  many  rocks  and 
bowlders  at  the  bottom  of  the  ravine.  As  it 
was,  they  were  carried  above  these  obstructions, 
though  the  danger  from  the  sides  was  as  great, 
if  not  greater,  than  before. 

It  was  a  desperately  fierce  struggle  for  a  few 
minutes.  Palmer  caught  his  breath  as  he 
could,  and,  more  often  than  otherwise,  water 
instead  of  air  streamed  down  his  throat,  and 
had  to  be  coughed  out  again.  Leaves,  sticks, 
branches,  whole  trees,  bark,  and  every  imagin- 
able product  of  the  mountain  forests  were 
around  and  about  him,  but  since  all  were 
borne  forward  with  the  same  rush  and  at  com- 
paratively the  same  speed,  the  danger  of  col- 
lision with  these  objects  was  slight. 

It  was  no  difficult  matter  for  the  lieutenant, 
when  he  found  himself  on  the  surface,  to 
sustain  himself  there,  but  since  his  out- 
stretched hands  struck  a  large  tree  bobbing 
along  on  the  torrent,  he  was  only  simply  pru- 
dent when  he  threw  one  arm  over  it  with  the 


WITH   THE   TORKEXT.  69 

conclusion  that  it  might  as  well  sustain  him  as 
to  drift  uselessly  downward. 

At  the  moment  of  doing  this  Lieutenant 
Palmer,  for  the  first  time,  asked  himself  : 

'^Is  it  among  the  possibilities  that  I  shall 
ever  live  to  tell  of  this  ?    Alas,  poor  Russ  1 " 

Now  that  the  first  gleam  of  hope  for  himself 
appeared,  his  thoughts  turned  to  his  friend 
from  whom  he  was  wrenched  with  such  sud- 
denness that  they  had  time  to  utter  only  the 
simple  words  of  farewell.  He  gave  no  thought 
to  the  ponies,  for  they  were  of  little  account, 
but  he  wondered  whether  the  manly  Hillsou 
was  still  alive  and  battling  for  life. 

"I  see  no  reason  why  he  should  not  have 
been  as  fortunate  as  I,"  he  reflected,  "for  he 
is  a  better  swimmer  and  must  have  encoun- 
tered but  the  same  difiiculties." 

It  was  not  strange  perhaps  that  he  recalled 
an  incident  somewhat  similar  which  occurred 
at  one  of  the  Southern  forts  not  long  before. 
The  captain  and  first  lieutenant  were  over- 
whelmed in  the  same  manner  by  a  sudden 
rush  of  waters  while  hunting  in  the  mountains 
and  both  were  drowned.     The  noticeable  point 


70  THE  PATH   IN   THE  EAVINE. 

was  that  by  one  of  tliose  curious  complications 
which  sometimes  take  place  in  the  army,  the 
two  who  lost  their  lives  were  the  couple  stand- 
ing immediately  ahead  of  the  second  lieuten- 
ant in  line  of  promotion.  He  nearly  lost  his 
own  life  in  the  effort  to  save  the  officers,  but 
failed  and  was  soon  rewarded  by  being  made 
captain. 

Now  that  hope  was  awakened  in  the  breast 
of  Lieutenant  Palmer,  and  his  sympathies 
were  stirred  for  his  late  companion,  he  could 
not  avoid  speculating  as  to  what  the  end  of  all 
this  was  to  be.  At  such  a  time  one  thinks 
rapidly,  and  there  was  hardly  a  possible  phase 
of  the  fearful  dilemma  that  did  not  present 
itself  to  him. 

The  first  truth  which  impressed  him  was 
that  this  mighty  volume  of  water  could  not  be 
driven  through  the  fissure-like  cut  by  which 
he  and  Hillson  entered  the  wild  region.  That 
was  so  exceedingly  strait  that  it  must  become 
choked  and  a  back  current  formed.  How- 
would  that  affect  him?  Could  he  keep  out  of 
the  fissure  through  whicli  it  must  be  forced, 
as  if  from  the  throat  of  a  gigantic  hose,  long 


WITH   THE  TORRENT.  7l 

enougli  to  help  himself?  If  caught  resist- 
lessly  in  it,  he  knew  he  would  shoot  over  and 
across  the  mountain  trail  as  if  fired  from  the 
mouth  of  a  columbiad.  Such  an  experience 
in  all  the  elements  of  terror  would  surpass  the 
experience  of  the  fool-hardy  Captain  Webb, 
who  essayed  the  impossible. 

But  was  there  not  another  outlet  to  this 
flood  ?  He  recalled  that,  for  some  distance 
after  leaving  the  mountain  path,  the  trend  of 
the  fissure  was  downward,  but  he  and  Hillson 
saw  no  passage  or  larger  chasm  connecting 
with  the  one  leading  into  the  mountains. 

And  yet  it  might  exist  and  escape  their 
notice,  for  their  eyes  were  always  fixed  in 
advance,  and  a  wide-throated  ravine  could 
join  this  one  in  such  a  manner  that  it  was 
prominent  only  when  they  were  facing  the 
other  way. 

This  seemed  like  a  violent  presumj)tion,  but 
after  all,  it  was  reasonable  enough  to  set  his 
thoughts  in  that  direction. 

However,  the  question  of  life  and  death 
must  soon  be  determined.  The  prodigious  speed 
with  which  he  was  borne  forward  was  sure  to 


72  THE  PATH   IN"  THE   RAVINE. 

bring  him  to  the  mountain  trail  in  a  few  mo- 
ments or  bear  him  along  the  diverging  torrent. 

Incredible  as  it  may  seem,  it  was  a  fact  that 
the  outlet  of  this  volume  of  rushing  water  was 
through  a  channel  almost  as  broad,  but  con- 
nected with  the  ravine  in  such  a  way  that  it 
was  not  observed  by  either  of  the  officers 
when  riding  toward  the  point  where  they 
made  their  camp  for  the  night. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  main  gorge 
was  sinuous  and  possessed  many  sharp  turns  in 
its  course.  It  was  at  one  of  these  that,  instead 
of  sweeping  onward,  the  torrent  shot  into 
another  channel,  which,  rightly  considered, 
was  the  real  continuation  of  the  ravine,  which 
had  really  been  entered  through  a  branch,  as 
it  may  be  termed,  by  our  young  friends. 

Into  this  new  course  Lieutenant  Palmer  was 
swept  with  the  same  amazing  swiftness  that  he 
had  been  carried  along  the  old  one.  He  did 
not  suspect  the  truth  until  he  had  passed  some 
distance  and  had  actually  grazed  the  side,  the 
momentary  touch  of  which  first  gave  him  an 
adequate  idea  of  the  bewildering  speed  with 
which  he  was  rushing  forward. 


WITH  THE  TORRENT.  73 

The  second  cliannel  being  mncli  narrower 
than  the  first  caused  an  instant  rise  of  the 
water,  a  portion  of  which  still  continued  along 
the  narrower  fissure  in  the  direction  of  the 
mountain  trail. 

Nothing  can  give  a  more  vivid  idea  of  the 
amazing  volume  of  water  than  the  statement 
that  within  a  minute  after  it  passed  the  ex- 
tinguished camp  fire,  it  had  risen  to  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  to^)  of  the  gorge.  Not 
only  that,  but  at  XDoints  where  the  summits  of 
the  walls  were  depressed,  it  overflowed. 

It  followed,  therefore,  that  after  the  water 
was  driven  into  the  narrower  passage,  it  rose 
still  higher,  and,  before  Palmer  dreamed  of 
what  had  taken  place,  he  was  "out  of  the 
swim"  altogether.  That  is  to  say,  the  whirl- 
ing volume  carried  him  over  the  top  of  the 
rocks  on  one  side  and  among  the  bowlders  and 
trees,  where  it  would  seem  his  chances  of 
death  were  increased  tenfold,  for  all  manner 
of  obstructions  were  now  on  every  hand  and 
his  progress  must  come  to  an  end  within  the 
briefest  space  of  time. 


CHAPTEH  IX. 

UP  A  TEEE. 

THE  first  proof  Lieutenant  Palmer  received 
of  the  unexpected  change  was  when  his 
foot  struck  the  ground  below  him.  It  was 
what  might  be  called  a  glancing  blow,  the  con- 
tact being  so  slight  that  he  could  not  secure 
an  ounce's  resistance. 

While  he  was  w^ondering  whether  he  had 
touched  the  top  of  some  towering  rock,  rising 
nearly  to  the  top  of  the  new  bed  of  the  tor- 
rent, he  found  himself  shooting  through  the 
branches  of  trees. 

This  signified  something.  Those  trees  must 
have  their  roots  imbedded  in  the  soil,  an  im- 
possibility had  they  been  in  the  path  of  the 
direct  rush  of  the  waters.  It  followed,  there- 
fore, that  he  had  been  "spilled  over"  and,  like 
a  Mississix)pi  steamer  gone  astray  in  a  flood, 

74 


UP  A  TREE.  75 

was  skurrying  over  territory  where  nothing  of 
the  kind  was  ever  known  before. 

The  instant  the  limbs  began  brushing  about 
his  face,  he  threw  out  his  hands  and  caught 
desperately  at  everything  within  reach.  The 
twigs  shot  through  his  grasp  with  blistering 
speed,  and,  when  he  seized  a  stronger  limb,  it 
snapped  off  short  as  though  it  were  a  pipestem. 

He  was  now  in  terror  of  being  dashed  to 
death  against  the  trunk  of  some  tree.  When 
the  next  instant  he  was  among  the  branches  of 
other  trees,  he  repeated  his  efforts  with  such 
vigor  that  he  held  fast.  The  strain  was  in- 
tense, but  it  meant  life  or  death  and  he  did 
not  let  go. 

The  moment  his  forward  motion  was  checked, 
he  lifted  himself  so  strongly  by  the  hands 
that  his  feet  were  drawn  clear  of  the  rushing 
current  and  he  was  perched  above  its  reach. 

"Thank  God!"  was  his  fervent  exclama- 
tion, now  realizing  that  at  last  he  was  saved  ; 
"it  is  a  miracle,  but  it  is  real." 

The  tense  strain  being  lifted.  Lieutenant 
Palmer  was  able,  for  the  first  time,  to  remove 
his  thoughts  from  the  immediate  present  to 


76  THE  PATH  IN  THE   RAVINE. 

the  immediate  future.  He  had  done  a  vast 
deal  of  guessing  and  speculating  while  in  the 
torrent,  but  he  was  in  constant  danger  of 
sudden  death,  and  it  was  that  fact  which  dom- 
inated all  others. 

It  was  clear  to  him  what  had  occurred.  The 
time  spent  in  the  water  suggested  that  the 
torrent  had  turned  into  a  new  channel,  since 
the  speed  with  which  he  was  carried  downward 
ought  to  have  taken  him  to  the  mountain  trail 
before  this.  That  new  bed  had  so  narrowed 
that  the  impetuous  water  rose  quickly  and 
Palmer  had  been  carried  over  and  outside  of 
the  banks  from  which  at  one  time  there  seemed 
to  be  no  possible  hope  of  effecting  his  escape. 

He  reasoned  further  that  this  flood  in  all  its 
characteristics  w^as  very  like  the  breaking 
away  of  some  reservoir ;  it  was  mighty  and 
overwhelming,  but  must  soon  subside,  since 
the  source  of  supply  was  exhausted.  The  rain 
had  ceased  falling  a  long  time  before,  and 
probably,  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  the  im- 
mense gorge  would  be  so  freed  that  the  ride  of 
the  horsemen  might  be  repeated,  were  other 
circumstances  favorable. 


UP   A   TPwEE.  77 

There  could  be  no  great  depth  of  water 
below  him,  and  ere  long  the  ground  must  be 
uncovered,  and  it  would  be  safe  for  him  to 
descend.  He  decided,  however,  not  to  do  so 
before  daylight,  since  he  was  liable  to  make  a 
misstep  in  the  darkness,  with  no  chance  of 
helx)ing  himself. 

The  situation  could  not  have  been  more 
discomforting,  but  he  was  mighty  glad  to 
exchange  it  with  that  of  a  few  minutes 
before.  It  seemed  to  him  the  tree  was  not 
very  tall  nor  large,  but  after  a  while  he  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  a  x)osition  much  better 
than  before. 

If  any  x')erson  wants  to  realize  how  slowly 
the  minutes  and  hours  can  drag  by,  let  him 
place  himself  in  a  situation  something  like  that 
of  Lieutenant  Palmer.  He  was  clothed  scan- 
tily, the  water  was  chilly,  and,  now  that  he 
was  deprived  of  all  exercise,  it  seemed  he  must 
be  chilled  through  and  joerish  before  he  could 
help  himself. 

His  matches  were  carried  in  a  small  rubber 
safe,  and  his  revolver  was  so  protected  that  its 
submersion  was  not  likely  to  affect  it  in  the 


78  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

least.  He  therefore  possessed  the  power  to 
strike  a  light  Avhenever  he  wished. 

"It  seems  to  me  I  have  been  here  about 
a  month,"  he  muttered  after  shifting  his 
position,  which  quickly  became  unbearably 
cramped,  ''but  it  can  hardly  be  as  long  as 
that,"  he  grimly  added,  as  he  began  fishing 
out  the  little  safe. 

It  required  no  little  care  and  skill  to  ignite 
the  bit  of  i^ine,  but  he  succeeded,  and  held  it 
in  front  of  his  watch.  Then  he  muttered  an 
exclamation  of  amazement. 

It  lacked  a  few  minutes  of  ten  o'clock ! 

"Heavens,  that  is  impossible!     I  thought 


so." 


He  placed  the  timepiece  against  his  ear  and 
found  it  had  ceased  ticking. 

"It  must  have  been  stopped  by  the  first 
rush  of  water,"  was  his  conclusion,  as  he 
returned  it  to  its  place  at  his  waist,  "and  that 
surely  was  hours  and  hours  ago." 

For  some  minutes  a  suspicion  had  been 
growing  upon  the  young  officer  that  he  was 
not  the  only  one  in  the  branches  of  the  tree. 
The  wild  thought  that  Hillson  might  have 


UP  A  TREE.  79 

reached  tlie  refuge  first  caused  him  to  pro- 
nounce his  name  several  times,  but  he  was 
almost  ashamed  the  next  moment  of  having 
done  so. 

He  had  forgotten  the  impression  while  work- 
ing with  the  tiny  match,  but  no  sooner  had  the 
twist  of  flame  shone  over  the  polished  face  of 
the  watch  than  a  warning  growl  from  some 
of  the  limbs  i^roved  that  his  fears  were  well 
founded. 

*'If  you  are  only  peaceable,"  said  Palmer, 
dropping  the  point  of  flame  among  the  limbs 
below,  "I  won't  bother  you,  but  you  may  as 
well  understand  that,  after  such  a  trip  as  I 
have  made,  I'm  ready  to  fight  every  inch  of  the 
way  hereafter,  whether  it  is  an  elephant,  a  tiger, 
or  a  treacherous  Indian  that  crosses  my  path." 

He  believed  that  a  wild  animal — most  prob- 
ably of  the  panther  variety — had  been  carried 
by  a  strange  chance  to  the  same  refuge  that 
had  interposed  to  save  him.  No  doubt  the 
brute  was  terrified  for  the  time  out  of  its 
natural  fierceness,  though  ere  long  it  would  be 
ready  to  resume  business  at  the  old  stand. 

The  growl  came  from  some  point  above  and 


80  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

not  far  off,  and  caused  the  officer  to  reacli  for 
his  revolver,  for  he  was  liable  to  be  assailed  at 
any  moment. 

The  growl  was  followed  by  occasional  pur- 
ring mutterings  which  enabled  him  to  decide 
the  exact  spot  w^here  the  beast  was  crouching. 
It  was  on  a  limb  hardly  ten  feet  above  his 
head,  and  far  enough  away  and  around  to 
require  an  elevation  of  some  forty-five  degrees 
to  reach  it  with  a  shot. 

Palmer  reflected  that  his  position  could  not 
be  worse,  for  an  easy  jumi3  on  the  part  of  the 
wild  beast  must  bring  it  directly  down  on  his 
shoulders,  and  he  was  in  no  condition  to  engage 
in  a  fight  of  that  kind.  That  the  animal  would 
make  such  an  attack  he  did  not  doubt,  and  it 
would  seem,  therefore,  that  the  best  thing  was 
to  anticipate  it. 

He  tried  for  several  minutes  to  gain  a  sight 
of  its  eyes,  so  as  to  aim  with  some  certainty  of 
hitting  it,  but  he  failed  to  obtain  the  first 
glimpse,  and  though  he  knew  the  very  place 
where  it  was  crouching,  he  dared  not  take  the 
chances  of  firing  without  more  conditions  in 
his  favor. 


rP    A   TREE. 


81 


The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to  change  his 
own  position.  He  was  quite  near  the  trunk  of 
the  tree,  and,  carefully  rising  to  his  feet,  he 
shifted  slowly  around  so  as  to  interpose  the 
trunk  between  him  and  the  brute. 

The  instant  he  began  the  movement  his 
enemy  renewed  its  growling  with  such  vigor 
that  he  was  sure  it  was  gathering  itself  to 
spring.  He  held  his  weapon  ready  to  fire,  but 
the  leap  was  not  made,  and,  balancing  himself 
with  one  foot  on  the  right  and  the  other  on 
the  left,  the  latter  resting  on  a  limb  some 
inches  higher  than  the  other,  Palmer  placed 
one  arm  around  the  trunk  opposite  his  shoul- 
ders, and  felt  that  his  situation  was  excellent. 
He  was  behind  ramparts,  and,  though  the 
beast  might  reach  him  with  his  sharp  claws, 
there  was  a  chance  of  using  the  revolver  effec- 
tively. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Palmer,  while 
peering  cautiously  around  the  right  of  the 
trunk,  caught  the  greenish  phosphorescent 
o-litter  of  the  animal's  eves.  It  was  only  for  a 
moment,  the  head  shifting  so  quickly  that  they 
instantly  vanished. 


32  THE   PATH   IN   THE   RAVINE. 

He  pointed  the  weapon  at  the  place,  but 
held  his  fire,  waiting  for  another  display. 

It  came  a  minute  later,  when  the  shifting 
head  revealed  the  peculiar  gleam  of  the  round 
eyes.  At  such  a  time,  when  Palmer  could  not 
see  his  upraised  hand,  of  course  he  could  do 
nothing  in  the  nature  of  sighting  his  weapon  ; 
but  his  familiarity  with  its  use  enabled  him  to 
point  the  chambers  as  accurately  as  though  the 
sun  were  shining. 

At  the  same  instant  that  the  greenish  flash 
was  observed,  he  let  fly  with  two  charges  in 
quick  succession. 

There  could  be  no  doubt  that  he  hit  the 
brute,  for  the  snarling  yelp  which  instantly 
escaped  it  was  as  much  of  pain  as  anger. 
Without  a  second's  hesitation  it  bounded 
downward  and  straight  at  its  assailant,  who 
would  have  been  torn  but  for  the  interposing 
tree  trunk. 

He  heard  it  fiercely  clawing  and  clutching 
at  the  limbs  in  the  effort  to  sustain  itself, 
and,  by  way  of  helping  matters,  he  pumped  a 
couple  more  balls  into  the  body.  The  strug- 
gles and  outcries  were  redoubled,  but  the  beast 


UP   A  TREE.  83 

could  not  sustain  itself.  It  dropped  downward 
through  the  few  remaining  limbs,  striking  the 
water  with  a  splash,  without  having  harmed  a 
shred  of  the  young  man's  scanty  clothing. 

All  this  was  a  source  of  congratulation,  but 
that  which  pleased  him  the  most  was  what 
immediately  followed  on  the  fall  of  the  brute. 
The  instant  it  landed  it  hastily  left  the  spot, 
but  instead  of  doing  so  by  swimming  it 
trotted  off. 


CHAPTEE   X. 

AIMLESS  WANDERINGS. 

THE  patter  of  the  animal's  feet  as  it  trotted 
away  from  tlie  foot  of  the  tree  proved 
that  the  water  had  become  very  shallow.  In- 
deed, its  dei3th  could  not  have  been  more  than 
a  few  inches,  as  was  shown  by  the  ease  with 
which  the  brute  travelled. 

''I  shall  soon  have  solid  land  under  me," 
thought  Palmer,  "and  all  that  I  can  pray  is 
that  Hillson  has  been  as  fortunate  as  I." 

The  flow  was  plainly  heard,  and  he  was  sure, 
from  its  peculiar  noise,  that  it  was  falling 
rapidly.  Clearly  all  danger  from  that  source 
was  at  an  end. 

But  the  lieutenant  was  in  a  pitiable  condi- 
tion. He  was  shivering  with  cold,  and  his 
limbs  were  so  cramped  that  more  than  once  he 
was  in  danger  of  losing  his  hold  and  falling  to 

84 


AIMLESS   WANDERINGS.  85 

the  ground.  In  fact,  he  was  tempted  to  do  so, 
for  any  change  Avas  preferable  to  that  in  the 
tree. 

But  while  he  was  debating  with  himself 
what  was  best  to  do,  he  was  thrilled  by  a 
growing  light  in  one  portion  of  the  sky.  He 
had  been  disappointed  so  often  that  he  feared 
it  was  only  another  delusion.  Looking  long 
and  earnestly  at  the  spot,  he  fancied  he  was 
mistaken  ;  but,  when  he  turned  his  gaze  in 
another  direction  for  some  minutes,  and  then 
brought  it  back  to  the  former  place,  all  doubts 
were  removed.     Day  was  breaking. 

The  next  gratifying  discovery  came  when 
the  light  was  strong  enough  to  give  him  a  sight 
of  the  ground  below.  While  the  leaves  and 
grass  were  wet,  the  water  w^  as  gone  ;  there  was 
not  so  much  as  a  rivulet  flowing.  The  prodig- 
ious reservoir  was  rapidly  exhausting  itself,  if 
it  had  not  already  done  so. 

At  the  same  moment  he  learned  this  cheering 
fact  he  let  himself  down  from  the  limbs,  land- 
ing lightly  on  his  feet,  and  looked  about  him. 
By  the  rapidly  increasing  light  he  saw  he  had 
been  carried  among  a  grouj)  of  trees  of  much 


86  THE  PATH  IN   THE  EAVINE. 

less  extent  than  lie  supposed.  He  shuddered 
on  noting  that  several  had  been  uxirooted  by 
the  torrent,  which  had  flung  great  bowlders 
against  them  with  tremendous  force. 

It  was  easy  to  trace  the  course  of  the  flow, 
and  he  had  to  go  little  more  than  a  hundred 
yards  when  he  reached  the  edge  of  the  ravine 
from  which  he  was  carried  by  the  friendly 
overflow. 

He  was  astonished  beyond  measure  to  find 
that  that  was  also  substantially  free  from 
water.  Muddy  pools  were  here  and  there, 
while  trees,  branches,  and  overturned  bowlders 
lay  in  many  places,  but  there  was  no  defined 
flow  of  the  torrent,  which  hours  before  had 
l)oured  through  the  ravine  with  a  rush  and 
volume  which  of  necessity  speedily  drained 
dry  its  source. 

He  stood  for  some  minutes  gazing  over  the 
edge  of  the  gorge  with  strange  thoughts  stir- 
ring his  heart.  He  could  not  help  recalling  the 
fearful  experience  of  the  night  before,  when, 
with  his  hand  clasj^ing  that  of  Hillson,  the 
awful  fury  of  the  flood  tore  them  apart,  with 
not  a  hope  in  the  heart  of  either  that  they 


AIMLESS    WANDERINGS.  87 

would  ever  look  upon  each  other's  face,  or  hear 
each  other's  voice  again. 

He  monrned  him  as  one  mourns  a  true  and 
noble  friend,  but  his  own  situation  demanded 
every  attention. 

He  was  so  chilled  that  the  first  thing  he  did 
was  to  run  rapidly  back  and  forth,  swinging 
his  arms  and  leaping  in  the  air,  to  restore  his 
circulation.  This  was  kept  up  with  such  vigor 
for  several  minutes  that  his  system  was  thrown 
into  a  glow  and  he  felt  much  better. 

^'  What  would  I  not  give  for  an  army  blan- 
ket ? "  he  said,  panting  from  his  exertion  ;  ''it 
is  enough  to  tempt  a  fellow  to  duplicate  his 
pay  accounts  to  get  one." 

The  sensation  of  hunger  was  strong,  but  he 
had  learned  how  to  bear  that  uncomplainingly 
during  his  campaigning  on  the  frontier.  The 
most  obvious  course  was  for  him  to  locate 
himself  as  soon  as  he  could,  and  then  to  set 
out  on  his  return  to  the  fort,  many  a  weary 
mile  away. 

He  knew  there  were  Indians,  some  of  them 
vagrant  and  dangerous,  in  these  mountains, 
but  he  would  have  welcomed  the  risk  could  he 


88  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

have  caught  sight  of  the  smoke  of  one  of  their 
camp  fires,  but  his  vision  was  not  gratified  by 
the  first  sign  of  a  human  being's  presence  in 
the  neighborhood. 

Since  it  was  out  of  his  power  to  cross  the 
gorge,  while  it  was  not  certain  his  situation 
would  be  improved  thereby,  he  picked  his 
way  along  the  sides,  keeping  it  in  sight  at  all 
times,  though  the  roughness  of  the  Journey 
compelled  him  to  advance  with  the  utmost  care. 

AVhile  he  was  wondering  w^here  the  torrent 
of  water  had  found  its  outlet,  the  overjpower- 
ing  answer  burst  upon  him. 

The  gorge,  after  one  of  its  violent  turns, 
entered  an  underground  x^assage  whose  mouth, 
a  hundred  feet  wide  and  almost  as  high,  was 
like  the  gateway  to  some  vast  subterranean 
cavern,  into  which  it  seemed  the  Mississippi 
might  have  lost  itself. 

For  several  rods  in  front  of  this  vast  tunnel 
the  bottom  w^as  so  depressed  that  a  pond  of 
motionless  water  lay,  muddy,  full  of  leaves, 
trees,  and  vegetation. 

The  lieutenant  shuddered  as  he  reflected 
that  but  for  that  sudden  and  fortunate  over- 


AIMLESS    WANDERINGS.  89 

flow,  lie  would  have  been  swept  into  tliose 
fearful  dej^tlis,  from  which  no  man  or  animal 
could  emerge  alive. 

"That  is  the  tomb  of  Hillson  and  the 
ponies,"  he  reflected,  weighed  down  Avith  un- 
speakable sadness;  "the  torrent  may  flow 
for  many  miles  underground  before  reaching 
its  outlet  in  some  of  the  rivers,  and  it  is  not 
likely  that  his  body  will  ever  be  seen  or  heard 
of  again." 

Inasmuch  as  the  ravine  had  been  entered 
from  the  other  side,  he  crossed  the  arch  of  the 
tunnel  and  pushed  his  journey  in  that  direc- 
tion. The  ground  was  so  rough,  covered  with 
pines  and  undergrowth,  that  travelling  was  of 
the  hardest  nature,  while  the  towering  moun- 
tains behind  him  and  the  scarcely  less  pre- 
cipitous slopes  and  elevations  along  which  he 
was  obliged  to  make  his  way  shut  off  his  view 
on  every  hand. 

The  position  of  the  sun,  however,  gave  great 
help.  It  appeared  to  rise  in  the  south,  but  he 
was  sensible  enough  to  understand  his  mis- 
take, and  he  headed  toward  the  fort,  greatly 
relieved  to   find    that,    while    following    the 


90  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

ravine,  his  course  was  favorable  almost  from 
the  first. 

His  aim  now  was  to  reach  the  mountain 
trail  which  he  and  his  friend  left  the  afternoon 
before,  little  dreaming  of  what  was  to  follow. 
This  attained,  he  would  be  able  to  locate  him- 
self without  trouble,  for,  as  has  been  shown  in 
another  place,  it  served  as  the  popular  gate- 
way to  the  fame -IS  hunting  grounds  of  that 
section.  He  could  not  forget,  however,  that 
the  ascent  of  the  rocks  to  the  left  of  the  moun- 
tain trail,  as  they  rode  up  it,  was  so  steep  in 
most  places  as  to  be  insurmountable  ;  and, 
that  being  so,  he  might  well  wonder  how  he 
should  ever  find  his  way  down  to  it  again. 

But  all  that  remained  was  to  press  vigor- 
ously onward,  for,  if  compelled  to  stay  long  in 
the  mountains  in  his  present  plight,  he  must 
X)erish.  While  he  carried  a  few  matches,  no 
fire  could  take  the  place  of  warm  clothing. 
The  autumn  was  advancing,  and  in  that  nor- 
thern climate  when  the  autumn  season  does 
close  in  it  is  like  that  which  the  Arctic  ex- 
plorers encounter  in  the  extreme  northern 
regions. 


AIMLESS    WANDERINGS.  91 

At  the  end  of  a  couple  of  liours  Lieutenant 
Palmer  could  not  see  that  he  was  any  nearer 
his  destination  than  before.  His  clothing  had 
been  torn  by  the  briars  and  bushes,  and  he 
was  beginning  to  feel  the  effects  of  his  con- 
tinual and  laborious  climbing. 

"I  wonder,"  he  said  to  himself,  stopping 
for  a  brief  breathing  spell,  "  whether  there  are 
any  Blackfeet  or  Gros  Ventres  or  Piegans 
within  call.  They  are  not  the  most  desirable 
acquaintances  in  these  parts,  but  there  isn't 
much  about  me  in  the  way  of  inlander  to  tempt 
them,  and  my  revolver  is  still  serviceable " 

The  crackling  of  the  undergrowth  behind 
him  caused  the  startled  officer  to  tarn  his  head 
like  a  flash  ;  and  as  he  did  so,  he  received  the 
greatest  surprise  of  his  life. 


CHAPTER  XL 

A    STRANGE  TUG. 

WE  are  quite  sure  tlie  reader  will  admit 
that  Lieutenant  Palmer  passed  through 
a  stirring  experience,  and  that  his  escape  from 
death  was  as  wonderful  in  many  respects  as 
some  of  those  that  marked  the  Johnstown 
disaster  which  appalled  the  civilized  world. 

But  by  one  of  those  marvellous  complica- 
tions which  seem  to  defy  the  laws  of  chances 
and  probabilities,  his  friend,  Lieutenant  Hill- 
son,  passed  a  night  in  many  respects  more 
amazing  than  that  of  the  elder  officer. 

Palmer  was  right  when  he  declared  his 
friend  to  be  a  better  swimmer  than  he,  but  no 
skill  could  avail  him  when  caught  by  the  re- 
sistless torrent  which  thundered  through  the 
mountain  gorge  like  an  Alpine  avalanche. 
Finding  his  hand  jerked  from  the  grasp  of  his 


^      l  It t 


A   STRAXGE  TUG.  93 

companion,  lie  instinctively  imitated  his  ac- 
tion, and  with  the  same  result  that  he  found 
himself  on  the  surface,  plunging  forward  in 
the  darkness,  with  only  a  dim  idea  of  where 
he  was  going,  content  to  fight  off  death  for  a 
few  minutes  only. 

Hillson  was  overtaken  by  a  mishap  which 
his  friend  escaped.  A  huge  tree,  caught  in 
some  peculiar  Avhirl  of  the  torrent,  threw  its 
dangling  roots  aloft,  descending  again  with  a 
violent  splash.  The  darkness  was  too  intense 
for  the  swimmer  to  see  his  danger,  and  as  the 
trunk  descended  he  was  struck  with  a  shock 
that  rendered  him  partly  senseless  for  a  few 
minutes. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  his  skill  in 
swimming  served  him  well.  Most  persons 
would  have  drowned  while  suffering  from  the 
blow,  but  he  kept  his  limbs  moving  with  an 
expertness  that  saved  him,  while  the  chilly 
current  speedily  brought  him  back  to  his  full 
senses. 

He  knew  what  it  was  that  had  struck  him, 
and  saw  the  chance  to  save  his  strength  by 
using  some  of  the  debris  to  help  float  him,  as 


94  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

his  friend  was  in  reality  doing  at  that  very 
moment. 

He  had  heard  that  frightful  cry  of  the  grizzly 
when  overtaken  by  the  flood,  but  gave  it  no 
further  thought,  until  in  groiDing  around  in  the 
gloom  both  hands  came  in  contact  with  some- 
thing soft  and  yielding.  He  was  frightened  at 
first,  but  the  next  moment  recognized  it  as  the 
coat  of  the  grizzly  bear,  who  was  swimming  for 
dear  life. 

"I  don't  see  why  you  won't  do  as  well  as 
anything  else,"  muttered  Hillson,  struck  by 
the  oddity  of  the  situation,  "so  here  goes!" 

The  head  of  the  brute  was  mostly  above 
water,  the  vast  body  sloping  backward  and 
downward,  until  the  haunches  were  too  far 
beneath  to  be  of  any  service  ;  but,  just  back  of 
the  shoulders  was  the  spot  which  could  not 
have  been  excelled  as  a  means  of  support  for 
one  in  the  situation  of  the  young  officer.  He 
grasped  the  long,  glossy  hair  at  that  place, 
finding  that  so  long  as  bruin  maintained  him- 
self, his  own  situation  was  all  he  could  wish. 

"  I  don't  know  what  point  you're  aiming  at, 
Ephraim,"  said  Hillson,  "but  it's  all  the  same 


A   STRANGE  TUG.  95 

to  me,  and  I  prefer  that  you  should  serve  as 
my  steam  tug  rather  than  to  go  it  alone." 

For  some  time  the  grizzly  gave  no  sign  of 
knowing  what  had  taken  place.  He  was 
swimming  powerfully,  though  it  appeared  to 
be  aimlessly.  He  was  forced  to  go  with  the 
torrent,  wheresoever  that  bore  him,  and  was 
using  his  immense  strength  with  might  and 
main. 

It  struck  Hillson  that  the  brute  was  wasting 
his  efforts,  but  before  long  he  changed  his 
mind,  for,  though  the  ursus  species  includes 
the  most  stupid  of  the  animal  kind,  it  was  not 
long  before  he  gave  proof  that  he  was  following 
a  definite  plan  which  did  him  no  discredit. 

In  fact  he  was  making  for  the  side  of  the 
gorge,  which  in  many  places  was  within  his 
reach.  While  he  drifted  with  the  current  he 
also  worked  quartering,  and  had  not  struggled 
long  when  he  was  spinning  along  shore  so  close 
that  he  grazed  the  walls  of  rock. 

At  the  first  opportunity  he  reached  one  of 
his  huge  paws  upward  and  struck  the  bank 
above,  but  the  force  of  the  water  swept  him 
past  without  the  slightest  cessation  of  speed. 


96  THE  PATH  IN  THE  PwAVINE. 

Hillsoii  understood  what  he  was  trying  to 
do,  and  hope  was  at  once  aroused  that  his 
Samson-like  strength  would  enable  him  to 
draw  himself  out  of  the  resistless  rush. 

''  It  will  delight  me  to  have  you  succeed,  my 
old  enemy,  but  I  am  determined  you  shall  not 
get  out  of  the  swim  without  taking  me  with 
you.  I  can't  give  you  much  help,  but  you 
may  be  able  to  do  a  good  deal  for  me." 

By  and  by  the  grizzly  essayed  it  once  more, 
and  then  again  and  again,  but  with  no  more 
success  than  in  the  first  instance.  Possibly  he 
might  have  accomplished  it  in  one  case  but  for 
his  heavy  handicap.  Some  idea  of  that  nature 
must  have  come  to  him,  for,  after  falling  back 
in  the  water,  he  emitted  one  of  his  ugly  growls 
and  turned  about  in  the  wrathful  effort  to 
reach  the  fellow  with  his  jaws. 

But  Hillson  had  been  expecting  this  from 
the  beginning  and  was  on  his  guard.  He  had 
nothing  to  do  but  to  retain  his  grip  on  the 
shaggy  coat  at  the  shoulders,  and  the  brute 
had  no  power  to  shake  him  off.  He  tried  it 
several  times,  turning  entirely  around  more 
than  once,  but  Hillson  could  afford  to  despise 


A  STRANGE  TUG.  97 

his  efforts,  and  he  was  not  frightened  in  the 
least. 

The  animal  himself  quickly  saw  he  could  do 
nothing  in  that  line,  and  resumed  his  swim- 
ming, close  to  the  upper  edge  of  the  wall, 
which  for  some  distance  was  beyond  his  reach. 

However,  nature  was  kind  enough  to  do  that 
which  was  out  of  the  power  of  the  grizzly.  He 
was  still  clawing  and  scrambling  in  the  vain 
effort  to  climb  out  of  the  water,  when  he  went 
headlong  over  a  depression  below  the  main 
torrent.  It  was  here  the  choked  water,  seek- 
ing every  possible  overflow,  shot  a  portion  to 
one  side,  carrying  the  huge  beast  in  spite  of 
himself.  True  to  his  resolve,  Hillson  clung 
fast,  and,  before  he  understood  what  was  com- 
ing, found  himself  tumbling,  half-strangled 
and  seemingly  so  mixed  up  with  the  brute  that, 
had  the  latter  used  the  chance,  he  could  have 
destroyed  him  in  a  twinkling. 

But  the  grizzly  just  then  was  fighting  for 
nobody  but  himself.  The  shallowness  of  the 
water  allowed  him  to  get  upon  his  feet,  while 
the  lieutenant  was  sufficiently  wise  to  let  go 
before  angering  him  into  an  attack.     The  run- 


98  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

ning  stream  was  almost  to  his  knees,  and, 
though  it  rushed  past  with  great  force,  he, 
too,  was  strong  enough  to  retain  his  feet. 

Hill  son  Avas  wise  and  kept  his  head.  He 
knew  he  was  still  in  imminent  i^eril,  and 
anything  in  the  nature  of  undue  haste  or  panic 
would  be  fatal.  He  was  outside  the  main 
gorge,  but  still  much  nearer  than  was  agree- 
able. A  step  or  two  to  the  left  was  likely  to 
drop  him  into  the  foaming  flood  again,  and, 
once  there,  he  could  hope  for  no  such  good 
fortune  as  had  just  saved  his  life. 

Not  only  was  the  bear  gone,  but  it  might  be 
that  this  overflow,  after  running  a  short  dis- 
tance, returned  to  the  gorge  through  some  still 
lower  depression,  over  which  he  was  liable  to 
be  precipitated  at  any  moment  if  he  took  the 
wrong  course. 

But  he  could  not  stand  still  with  the  torrent 
rushing  about  his  knees.  With  a  coolness 
natural  to  him,  he  began  working  his  way 
at  right  angles  to  the  course  of  the  smaller 
stream,  and  directly  from  the  gorge,  provided 
the  course  of  the  latter  had  not  changed 
abruptly.     This   certainly  was  the  safer  pro- 


A   STRANGE    TUG.  99 

ceeding,  according  to  all  reasoning,  but  Hill- 
son  determined,  now  that  Heaven  had  given 
him  such  aid,  that  he  would  not  throw  away 
his  opportunity.  He  stepped  with  as  much 
care  as  that  shown  by  an  ele^Dhant  when  ven- 
turing upon  a  rickety  bridge,  never  allowing 
the  advanced  foot  to  bear  his  weight  until  he 
knew  it  rested  on  solid  foundation. 

It  did  not  take  much  travelling,  even  in  this 
slow  fashion,  for  him  to  emerge  from  the  side 
stream,  which  had  been  the  means  of  saving 
himself  and  the  grizzly.  He  was  simply  seek- 
ing a  firm  basis  for  his  feet,  where  he  would 
be  willing  to  stand  until  the  light  of  day 
enabled  him  to  make  another  venture  for 
himself. 

He  had  secured  it  at  last,  and  his  prayer  of 
thankfulness  was  as  fervent  as  that  of  Palmer 
when  rescued  from  what  he  looked  upon  as 
certain  death. 

He  had  no  means  of  learning  how  extensive 
was  the  *' platform"  on  which  he  w^as  sup- 
ported, but  was  satisfied  to  know  it  was  firm. 
Drawing  his  match  safe  from  his  pocket  he 
managed  with  considerable  trouble  to  ignite 


100  THE  PATH   ITSr   THE  EAVINE. 

one  of  the  tiny  torches,  but  it  was  instantly 
put  out  by  the  wind,  which  blew  quite  strongly. 
When  a  second  effort  failed,  he  forebore  re- 
peating it,  for  it  occurred  to  him  that  those 
lucifers  were  likely  to  acquire  great  value  to 
him  before  he  was  fully  delivered  from  the 
labyrinth  of  peril  in  which  he  was  entangled. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

A  FRIEND   TPwIED  AND  TRUE. 

TOUNG  Hillson  gained  a  more  vivid  idea 
than  ever  before  of  playing  the  martyr. 
His  situation  was  fully  as  dismal  and  trying 
as  that  of  his  old  friend  in  the  tree,  but  he 
fought  off  the  torturing  chill  by  leaping  up  and 
down,  slapping  himself,  and  going  through 
more  than  one  form  of  violent  gymnastics. 
The  hours  were  unspeakably  long,  but  dark- 
ness fled  at  last,  and  the  glorious  sun  once 
more  rose  over  forest  and  mountain. 

The  first  fact  impressed  upon  him,  after  dis- 
covering that  he  was  in  a  dense  growth  of 
trees  at  the  foot-hills  of  a  range  that  seemed  to 
tower  to  the  very  clouds,  was  that  there  was 
no  water  of  account  nearer  him  than  that  con- 
tained in  the  gorge  from  Avhich  he  had  effected 
his  escape  several  iours  before. 

The  next  discovery  fairly   took   away  his 

101 


102  THE  J>ATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

breath,  for  only  a  few  yards  away  was  a 
liorse  cropping  tlie  scanty  grass  beneath  the 
t^efes.'  'That  'S-ume  horse  was  saddled  and 
bridled,  and  hardly  a  second  glance  was  re- 
quired to  identify  it  as  his  own  pet  mare,  Kitty. 

"  How  in  the  name  of  creation  did  you  save 
yourself?"  asked  the  delighted  lieutenant, 
calling  the  Jiame  of  his  gallant  beast. 

The  latter  threw  up  her  head,  and  recogniz- 
ing him,  gave  a  whinny  of  x)leasure  as  she 
trotted  toward  him.  The  soldier  was  not 
ashamed  to  throw  his  arms  about  the  neck  of 
the  beautiful  animal,  who  pressed  her  silken 
nostrils  against  his  cheek  and  showed  her  hap- 
piness in  every  way  at  command. 

The  surprise  of  the  unexpected  meeting  over, 
the  shivering  lieutenant  jDroceeded  to  secure 
the  blanket  strapped  behind  the  saddle. 

"  It  won't  be  verv  comfortable  saturated  as 
it  must  be  with  water,"  he  muttered,  "but  it 
beats  freezing  to  death  a  thousand  per  cent. 
Well,  I'll  be  hanged  if  that  don't  get  me  !  " 

That  which  astonished  the  lieutenant  anew 
was  the  fact  that,  when  he  came  to  unfold  the 
precious  blanket,  he  found  it  dry  or  nearly  so, 


A  FRIEND  TRIED  AND  TRUE.  103 

the  only  moisture  penetrating  it  being  tliat 
which  had  struck  it  in  the  form  of  rain. 

The  result  of  subsequent  investigations  may 
as  well  be  given  in  this  place,  in  order  that  the 
reader  may  not  suspect  us  of  telling  fiction  for 
truth. 

When  the  ponies  fled  from  the  camp  at  the 
bottom  of  the  gorge,  terrified  by  the  appear- 
ance of  the  grizzly  bear,  they  headed  up  the 
ravine,  thus  continuing  the  course  they  had 
been  following  from  the  first.  Not  far  from 
the  spot  the  gorge  rapidly  broadened,  with 
such  gentle  sloiDes  on  the  right  and  left  that 
it  was  not  difilcult  for  any  animal  to  make  his 
way  out  of  it.  Had  the  two  officers,  on  the 
first  sound  of  the  approaching  flood,  hastened 
in  the  same  direction,  they  could  have  escaped 
without  danger. 

But  the  ponies  were  fleeing  in  the  dark,  and 
it  was  simple  accident  that  led  Kitty  to  climb 
out  to  the  left,  before  her  hoofs  were  wet  by 
the  rush  of  the  torrent.  Her  companion  con- 
tinued in  the  gorge  and  was  never  seen  again. 
Fortune  was  less  kind  to  him  than  to  his 
master  and  companion. 


104  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

It  may  be  said  that  Kitty  had  been  in  no 
danger  at  all,  so  that  her  escape  surpassed  in 
some  respects  that  of  the  officers  themselves. 
The  dryness  of  her  accoutrement  suggested  the 
true  explanation  to  her  owner  which,  as  we 
have  explained,  was  confirmed  by  subsequent 
investigations. 

When  Lieutenant  Hill  son  wrapped  himself 
in  a  heavy  w^arm  blanket,  he  executed  a  war 
dance,  winding  up  with  a  whoop  w^hich  would 
have  done  credit  to  a  Blackfoot  chieftain. 

"  Ah,  if  Palmer  was  only  as  lucky,"  he  said 
with  a  sigh. 

One  of  the  best  results  of  the  officer's  good 
fortune  was  the  strong  hope  it  inspired  in  his 
heart  for  his  friend.  He  reasoned  that  if  he 
and  his  mare  escaped  the  flood,  there  was 
good  grounds  for  believing  Palmer  had  done 
equally  well.  True,  he  had  no  grizzly  bear  to 
land  him,  but  Hillson  believed  he  could  man- 
age that  point  without  such  aid. 

So  it  came  about  that,  while  the  elder  was 
in  despair  over  the  fate  of  the  younger,  the 
latter  was  hopeful  in  the  highest  degree  con- 
cerning him. 


A  FRIEND  TRIED   AND  TRUE.  105 

But  Hillson  appreciated  the  situation  too 
well  to  waste  time  in  rejoicings.  Nothing  was 
to  be  seen  of  the  other  horse,  and  he  believed 
it  likely  that  Palmer  was  afoot  without  a 
blanket  to  protect  him  from  the  cold.  His  first 
aim,  therefore,  was  to  find  his  companion. 

He  spent  several  minutes  in  figuring  out,  as 
nearly  as  he  could,  his  position  as  to  the 
mountain  trail,  which,  if  found,  would  serve 
him  as  a  compass,  as  Palmer  expected  it  to 
do  in  his  case. 

He  followed  a  different  system  from  his 
brother  officer.  Instead  of  following  the 
course  of  the  gorge,  he  turned  away  from  it, 
plunging  deeper  into  the  hills  and  mountains. 
One  reason  for  doing  this  was  because  of  his 
mare.  He  could  tread  in  many  j>laces  where 
she  could  not  walk,  and  the  necessity  of  pick- 
ing out  a  route  for  her  led  him  through  a 
different  part  of  the  wild  region. 

But  the  path  along  the  mountain  side  was 
his  objective  point  from  the  first,  so  that  while 
the  friends  followed  different  routes  their  des- 
tination was  the  same. 

In  fact,  the  principal  anxiety  of  Hillson  was 


106      THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

that  he  would  be  unable  to  extricate  his  mare 
from  the  rugged  section  in  which  she  was 
forced.  He  mounted,  and,  with  his  blanket 
wrapped  around  his  shoulders  and  his  black 
hair  uncovered,  might  well  be  mistaken  for  a 
Blackfoot  Indian  who  had  been  out  rather 
late  the  night  before  and  was  effecting  a  zig- 
zag return  to  hit  wigwam  or  tepee. 

Hillson  had  pushed  his  way  for  an  eighth  of 
a  mile  in  this  laborious  fashion,  when  his  ani- 
mal stopped  without  word  from  him.  She 
had  reason  for  doing  so,  for  she  could  pene- 
trate no  further. 

''Well,  Kitty,"  he  said  with  a  sigh,  "this 
is  rather  rough  ;  you  have  done  your  best,  but 
it  looks  as  if  it  is  love's  labor  lost.  The  gates 
are  closed  in  front  and  we  must  hunt  some 
other  path." 

Slipping  from  the  saddle  he  left  the  animal 
to  search  for  an  outlet.  He  could  not  think 
of  retracing  his  steps,  since  there  was  no  surety 
of  gaining  anything  by  the  act.  It  would 
have  proven  a  strange  condition  of  affairs  if 
he  should  find  himself  obliged  to  abandon 
Kitty  altogether. 


A  FRIEND  TRIED   AND  TRUE.  107 

But  the  wonderfully  good  fortune  that  had 
attended  him  thus  far  did  not  desert  him  now. 
He  crept  only  a  few  rods  among  the  bowlders 
and  rocks,  when,  before  he  expected  anything 
of  the  kind,  he  stepped  into  a  well-worn  path. 

"It  looks  as  if  I  were  in  a  land  of  enchant- 
ment," he  said,  '^  for  everything  I  want  or 
need  comes  to  me.  This  trail  is  the  only  way 
to  safety  for  my  mare  and  me." 

He  did  not  linger  a  minute,  but,  returning 
to  where  Kitty  was  awaiting  him,  began  help- 
ing her  forward.  It  was  not  necessary  to  lead 
her  by  the  bridle,  but  at  a  word  she  began 
working  her  way  after  him,  he  carefully  select- 
ing the  path  for  her  hoofs. 

It  was  hard  work,  indeed,  and  more  than 
once  she  stumbled  and  fell  on  her  side,  but 
she  was  instantly  up  and  at  it  again,  her 
master  cheering  her  with  encouraging  words, 
while  a  chamois  could  hardly  have  surpassed 
her  achievement. 

"Here  we  are,  Kitty!"  he  exclaimed,  pat- 
ting her  neck,  when  they  stood  in  the  narrow 
path,  she  directly  behind  him.  Her  hand- 
some coat  had  been  ruffled,  and  she  was  not 


108       THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

able  to  escape  several  rough  bruises,  but  the 
injuries,  after  all,  amounted  to  little,  and  she 
was  as  ready  for  active  service  as  when  she 
bore  him  from  the  fort  the  day  before  on  their 
way  to  the  Bear  Paw  Mountains. 

It  now  occurred  to  Lieutenant  Hillson  that 
the  trail  which  he  was  so  glad  to  find  was  not 
likely  to  prove  an  unmixed  blessing. 

Since  the  path  was  there,  it  was  proper  to 
ascertain  the  reason  for  its  existence.  It  must 
have  been  made  either  by  the  feet  of  wild  ani- 
mals or  men.  It  has  been  stated  that  among 
these  mountains  were  members  of  the  various 
tribes  of  Indians,  who  were  far  different  from 
those  met  at  Fort  Assinaboine  and  on  the  cul- 
tivated portions  of  the  reservation.  They  felt 
little  fear  of  the  military  power  in  those  inac- 
cessible fastnesses,  where  a  half  dozen  warriors 
could  defy  the  whole  United  States  Army,  as 
Geronimo  and  his  handful  of  Apaches  did  for 
years. 

The  course  of  the  trail,  so  far  as  he  could 
see,  was  favorable,  and,  without  spending  time 
in  studying  it,  he  once  more  climbed  into  the 
saddle  and  started  Kitty  at  a  moderate  walk. 


A   FRIEXD  TRIED   AND   TRUE.  109 

The  path  was  too  narrow  for  a  couple  of 
horsemen  to  ride  abreast,  but  that  was  likely 
to  be  the  case  had  the  footprints  been  those  of 
men  or  animals,  since  both  travel  in  the  same 
manner.  It  would  not  have  been  pleasant  to 
follow  the  path  into  a  village  of  red  men, 
though,  had  the  choice  been  forced  upon  himj 
he  would  have  preferred  it  to  turning  back. 

He  noticed  that  the  trend  was  downward, 
though  not  inconveniently  so  for  Kitty,  who 
advanced  without  hesitation,  as  if  she  too 
understood   the  streak  of  good  fortune. 

Probably  an  eighth  of  a  mile  was  passed  in 
this  manner,  when,  without  the  least  warning, 
a  curve  in  the  trail  brought  him  in  sight  of  a 
single  Indian  wigwam,  standing  at  the  right  in 
a  small  natural  clearing.  The  mare  pricked 
her  ears  and  slackened  her  gait,  as  if  not  fully 
satisfied  with  the  appearance  of  things.  Hill- 
son  brought  her  to  a  halt,  and  spent  several 
minutes  in  inspecting  the  outlook. 

The  trail  was  enclosed  on  its  sides  by  rocks 
and  an  unusually  dense  growth  of  trees,  which 
shut  off  the  view  except  immediately  in  front, 
so  that  the  meeting,  as  it  may  be  called,  came 


110  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

witliont  tlie  notice  lie  would  have  received  had 
tlie  topography  been  different. 

As  far  as  he  could  see,  there  was  but  the 
single  tepee,  which  was  of  the  usual  conical 
shape,  with  the  tops  of  several  poles  projecting 
through  the  crest,  and  a  flap  in  the  skins  below 
showing  the  only  door  with  which  the  abor- 
iginal residence  was  furnished. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  DESCENDING  PATH. 

BUT  Lieutenant  Hillson  was  less  interested 
in  the  tepee  than  in  the  occupants.  He 
had  seen  hundreds  of  similar  lodges  in  the 
Nortliwest  and  knew  they  contained  enemies 
more  frequently  than  friends. 

The  singular  feature  of  the  scene  was  that 
only  the  single  primitive  structure  was  in  sight. 
It  is  a  rare  thing  for  the  American  Indian  to 
play  the  hermit.  Their  numbers  may  be  few, 
but  where  one  family  is,  it  is  safe  to  count  upon 
several.  As  the  mare  slowly  walked  along  the 
trail  and  brought  her  rider  in  front  of  the 
lodge,  however,  it  became  manifest  that  there 
was  but  the  single  dwelling. 

That  was  curious,  but  the  youth  would  have 

felt  better  pleased  had  the  dwellers  shown 

themselves.     Not  a  living  person  was  in  sight. 

Ill 


112  THE  PATH   IN  THE   KAVIIs^E. 

He  hoped  all  were  absent,  but  it  was  not  i3rob- 
able.  The  existence  of  an  Indian's  lodge 
means  that  some  member  of  his  family  is 
near. 

The  ignorance  of  Hillson  on  these  points 
left  the  imagination  free  to  conjure  up  all 
manner  of  perils.  He  fancied  the  red  men 
had  detected  him  before  he  saw  the  lodge,  and 
were  only  waiting  until  he. reached  a  certain 
point  in  the  trail  before  opening  upon  him 
with  their  rifles.  He  even  fixed  the  precise 
spot  where  the  attack  would  be  made. 

There  was  a  slight  depression  in  the  gravelly 
ground,  a  few  inches  to  the  left  of  the  path,  as 
if  made  by  the  hoof  of  a  horse  slipping. 

"  Tliere^  s  where  I  will  catch  it !  "  he  thought, 
giving  way  to  one  of  those  powerful  whims 
which  at  certain  times  the  strongest  minds 
cannot  resist;  '^the  instant  Kitty  puts  her 
forefoot  opposite  that  spot  they  will  fire  at 
me ! " 

Such  being  his  conviction,  perhaps  the 
reader  can  form  an  idea  of  his  feelings  as  his 
mare  steadily  drew  near  the  j)oint.  He  tried 
to  laugh  at  himself,  but  at  the  decisive  moment 


THE  DESCENDING  PATH.  113 

his  feelings  were  too  strong.     He  ducked  his 
head  and  cast  a  furtive  look  behind  him. 

No  shot  was  fired  and  he  saw  nothing  to 
cause  alarm.  The  flap  of  the  lodge  was  pulled 
aside,  and  at  the  upper  part  of  the  opening 
appeared  a  pair  of  bright  black  eyes,  a  por- 
tion of  the  copper  forehead  and  upper  part  of 
the  cheeks  of  someone  slyly  peeping  at  him 
as  he  rode  past. 

That  countenance  did  not  belong  to  a  war- 
rior nor  to  a  foe.  It  was  that  of  some  child 
or  comely  squaw  (that  is  as  comely  as  they  are 
ever  known  to  be),  and  being  satisfied  of  this, 
Hillson  extended  his  hand  and  fluttered  it  in 
salutation,  nodding  his  head  at  the  same  time 
and  smiling  in  his  very  best  style. 

Possibly  the  sight  of  the  bareheaded  man 
with  a  blanket  wrapped  about  his  shoulders, 
riding  by  on  the  pony,  raised  a  doubt  in  the 
mind  of  the  Indian  as  to  his  race,  and  she  was 
trying  to  answer  the  question  when  the  mys- 
terious horseman  turned  and  saluted  her. 

That  removed  all  doubts.     The  hand  that 
was  withdrawn  from  under  the  blanket  and 
gracefully  waved,  the  smiling  nod,  and,  above 
8 


114      THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

all,  the  full  view  of  the  face  and  features 
showed  the  Caucasian  too  clearly  to  be  mis- 
taken. 

The  instant  the  Indian  saw  the  attention  of 
the  white  youth  fixed  upon  her  (or  possibly 
him),  she  withdrew  from  sight  like  a  flash. 

*'But  all  the  same  she  is  watching  me," 
laughed  Hillson,  passing  from  view  around  a 
bend  in  the  trail. 

He  was  now  able  to  laugh  at  his  own  fears, 
though  he  was  not  altogether  rid  of  them. 
The  dread  of  a  shot  in  the  back  led  him  to 
force  Kitty  to  a  trot,  which  was  the  swiftest 
gait  attainable  along  the  narrow  path.  She 
held  it  for  several  hundred  yards  when  the 
ground  became  so  rough  and  descending  that 
she  was  forced  to  pick  her  way  with  greater 
care. 

The  fact  that  the  grade  was  steadily  down- 
ward impressed  Hillson.  He  had  already 
settled  in  his  mind  that  it  was  not  the  path 
made  by  wild  animals  in  going  to  and  return- 
ing from  water,  but  a  genuine  Indian  trail. 

'*  And  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  hoof  of  the 
Wild  Cat's  pony  or  his  own  moccason  has 


THE  DESCENDING  PATH.  115 

pressed  the  ground  here  many  a  time,"  he 
muttered,  referring  to  one  of  the  worst  vagrant 
Blackfeet  known  on  the  reservation  ;  ^'I  have 
been  half  exi^ecting  to  meet  him  ever  since  I 
struck  this  path  ;  it  would  have  been  singular 
if  that  lodge  back  there  proved  to  be  his 
own." 

Hillson  was  giving  his  fancy  free  rein  when 
Kitty  pricked  her  ears  and  slackened  her  pace 
in  a  way  that  left  no  doubt  she  had  discovered 
something  in  the  path  in  front.  Her  rider  had 
hardly  time  to  grasp  his  revolver,  which  he 
had  just  shoved  back  into  place,  when  the 
noise  of  a  pony  came  round  a  bend  in  the  trail, 
quickly  followed  by  his  small,  shapely  head, 
coal  black  in  color,  with  an  Indian  warrior 
astride  of  his  bare  back. 

''  T/iafs  the  Wild  Cat!''  was  the  thought 
which  instantly  came  to  the  startled  youth, 
**  and  a  row  is  bound  to  come." 

The  Blackfoot  vagrant  to  whom  he  referred 
had  an  ugly  countenance,  with  irregular  fea- 
tures, made  tenfold  more  repulsive  by  the 
vario-colored  paint  daubed  and  streaked  over 
it.    His  long,  coarse  black  hair  dangled  over 


116  THE  PATH   IN   THE  EAVINE. 

his  slioulders,  and  the  eyes  had  the  evil  gleam 
of  the  rattlesnake. 

The  Wild  Cat  carried  a  rifle  across  the  spine 
of  his  pony  in  front,  and  an  ugly  knife  was 
thrust  into  the  girdle  about  his  waist. 

Whether  he  was  alarmed  at  sight  of  the 
young  man  approaching  cannot  be  said,  but 
if  so  he  gave  no  evidence  of  it.  He  rode  evenly 
forward,  his  pony  on  a  walk,  with  his  piercing 
eyes  fixed  on  the  face  of  the  young  man.  Per- 
haps he  recognized  him  as  one  he  had  seen 
at  the  fort,  though  he  must  have  wondered  at 
sight  of  the  head,  without  any  covering  except 
that  which  crowned  his  own,  and  Avith  the 
blanket  drawn  up  and  gathered  about  the 
chin. 

The  cloth,  whose  ends  fell  about  Hillson's 
knees  and  feet,  completely  covered  his  hand 
and  arms,  except  where  the  fingers  of  one  hand 
partly  peeped  out  and  held  the  folds  together. 

The  other  clasped  the  single  revolver  in  his 
possession,  ready  to  fire  at  the  first  hostile 
move  on  the  part  of  the  notorious  vagrant, 
who  preferred  murder  and  thieving  to  any 
other  forms  of  amusement. 


THE  DESCENDIIs'G  PATH.  117 

The  Wild  Cat  saw  himself  approached  in  a 
manner  different  from  ever  before.  He  could 
not  know  what  was  beneath  that  all-enveloi)ing 
blanket,  nor  how  ready  some  deadly  weapon 
was  to  be  discharged.  Had  the  arms  been 
uncovered  he  could  have  formed  his  '*  combina- 
tion," and  guided  his  own  actions  with  more 
intelligence,  but  the  danger  most  dreaded  is 
that  whose  nature  is  unknown  or  only  sus- 
pected. 

The  Wild  Cat  gave  part  of  the  path.  Kitty 
was  about  to  reciprocate  when  Hillson  checked 
her,  holding  her  to  the  centre  of  the  trail. 

The  Indian  pony  was  obliged  to  step  entirely 
outside  and  pick  his  way  forward,  while  the 
mare  strode  forward  like  an  empress. 

The  knees  of  the  lieutenant  and  the  Black- 
foot  grazed  as  they  met,  but  the  look  of  the 
youth  was  as  defiant  as  that  of  the  vagrant, 
who  found  the  flash  of  his  own  treacherous 
orbs  met  by  the  manly  glow  of  the  youth  who 
feared  him  not. 

They  passed  without  a  word  or  a  hostile 
movement,  though  each  was  x^repared  to  meet 
it    with    lightning    quickness.     Hillson    had 


118  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

bluffed  magnificently,  but  lie  was  vastly 
relieved  when  anotlier  bend  in  the  descending 
trail  shut  them  out  from  each  other's  sight. 
He  dreaded  one  of  those  quick  discharges  from 
the  rifle  of  the  Blackfoot. 

But  nothing  of  the  kind  took  place,  and  the 
lieutenant  w^as  beginning  to  congratulate  him- 
self that  all  danger  was  over,  when  Kitty  unex- 
pectedly showed  that  she  had  made  another 
discovery. 

This  time,  instead  of  simply  pricking  her 
ear,  she  came  to  a  stop,  snuffing  and  looking 
so  sharply  to  the  left  that  it  was  easy  to  locate 
the  point  where  the  danger  was  located. 

Her  rider  did  not  urge  her,  for  his  confidence 
in  her  intelligence  was  too  great.  Instead  of 
that  he  softly  slipped  from  the  saddle  and 
began  stealing  through  the  wood  and  among 
the  rocks,  with  the  noiseless  tread  of  an 
Indian,  little  dreaming  of  what  was  to  meet 
his  vision  within  the  following  three  minutes. 


E 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  LOWER  LEVEL. 

EA.VING  liis  mare  Kitty  standing  in  tlie 
i  path,  Lieutenant  Hillson  continued  tread- 
ing liis  way  througli  the  bushes,  iindergrowth, 
and  wood,  and  around  the  bowlders  and  roclis, 
until  he  had  penetrated  to  a  distance  of  fifty 
yards,  when  he  stopped.  He  had  caught  the 
outlines  of  a  figure  through  the  vegetation. 

The  second  look  identified  it.  It  was 
Palmer,  with  his  bacli  toward  him,  apparently 
debating  with  himself  the  next  step  to  take. 
Hillson' s  heart  gave  a  throb  of  delight,  and 
he  was  planning  a  surprise,  when,  in  his  agita- 
tion, he  stepped  upon  a  twig  which  snapped 
under  his  foot.  His  friend  turned  his  head 
with  a  start. 

*^  Hello,  Riiss!" 

**  Hello,  Al!" 

And  tlie  next  minute  tlieir  hands  met  in  a 


119 


120      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

clasp  as  warm  as  that  of  the  night  before,  when 
both  believed  the  farewell  the  final  one. 

A  few  words  told  each  the  strange  experi- 
ence of  the  other  since  their  separation.  The 
exchange  was  hardly  finished  when  Hillson, 
taking  the  blanket  from  his  shoulders,  flung 
it  about  those  of  Palmer. 

''  You  need  it  more  than  I  do." 

**A  compromise  will  be  better,"  replied 
Palmer,  who,  although  his  teeth  were  chat- 
tering, drew  his  knife,  and  proceeded  deliber- 
ately to  cut  the  cloth  into  halves.  This  made 
the  portion  of  each  scanty,  but  the  comfort 
afforded  to  both  was  appreciated  to  its  fullest 
extent. 

''Well,  old  fellow,"  said  Hillson,  as  they 
began  picking  their  way  to  where  Kitty  was 
awaiting  them,  '*I  think  this  little  exi3edition 
of  ours  has  not  been  a  howling  success." 

''  In  one  res^^ect  it  has  not,  but  in  another  it 
has  never  been  surpassed." 

*'I  have  thought  the  same  as  you  about  our 
escape  from  the  torrent,"  replied  Hillson,  un- 
derstanding to  what  he  referred;  ''but  again 
I  have  asked  myself,  that  since  both  of  us 


THE   LOWER  LEVEL.  121 

escaped,  whether   it  was   so  wonderful,  after 

all." 

The  elder  shook  his  head. 
''  Don't  make  the  mistake  of  minifying  onr 
deliverance,  which  I  do  not  believe  could  be 
repeated  again  in  a  thousand  times.     To  me  it 
is  little  short  of  a  miracle." 

<'I  have. thanked  God  many  a  time,  and 
shall  continue  to  do  so  as  long  as  I  live,  for  it 
was  the  most  striking  event  of  its  kind  that  I 
have  ever  known." 

^' We  have  lost  our  rifles,  and  I  shall  never 
see  my  horse  again,  while  we  shall  have  to 
make  a  requisition  on  the  commissary  depart- 
ment before  we  are  fit  to  go  on  parade,  but 
what  will  not  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his 

life?" 

*'  Here  we  are,"  observed  Hillson,  halting  in 

the  path. 

''Ah,  Kitty,  I  am  glad  to  see  you,"  said 
Palmer,  petting  the  intelligent  mare,  "and  I 
really  suspect  you  do  not  feel  very  bad  over 
my  return,  do  you,  my  pretty  jade  ?  " 

The  animal's  pleasure  was  shown  as  clearly 
as   when   she   greeted  Hillson,  who,  with    a 


122  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

laugh,  remarked  that  if  this  thing  continued, 
he  would  begin  to  grow  jealous. 

'*  She  will  be  glad  to  carry  us  both,"  he 
added,  *' though  we  shan't  be  able  to  make 
very  great  speed  with  her.  I  wonder  whither 
this  path  will  lead  us  if  we  stick  to  it." 

Palmer  studied  the  position  of  the  sun  a  few 
minutes  before  answering : 

"  It  has  almost  the  right  course,  but  we  can 
hardly  hope  that  it  joins  the  mountain  trail 
we  were  foolish  enough  to  leave  yesterday 
afternoon." 

However,  it  was  clear  that  nothing  was  to 
be  gained  by  speculating.  The  only  way  to 
settle  the  questions  that  came  up  was  by  push- 
ing forward  and  finding  out  for  themselves. 

Lieutenant  Palmer  took  the  lead,  with  Hill- 
son  walking  close  behind  him,  and  Kitty  fol- 
lowing like  an  affectionate  canine.  They  did 
not  mean  to  tax  her  strength  until  it  should 
become  necessary.  Palmer  had  done  consider- 
able hard  tramping  since  early  morning,  but 
he  declined  his  friend's  invitation  to  ride. 
The  trail  continued  to  descend,  though  occa- 
sional rises  were    encountered,  and  many  a 


THE  LOWER  LEVEL.  123 

bowlder  and  rock  were  flanked  by  tiresome 

detours. 

The  hopes  of  the  yonng  oflacers  were  that 
the  path  they  were  following  would  lead  them 
to  the  mountain  trail,  though  they  were  not 
without  grave  doubts  from  the  first.  It  has 
been  explained  that  if  they  could  return  to 
the  route  they  were  following  on  entering  the 
mountain  region,  they  could  have  ridden 
straight  to  Fort  Assinaboine  without  loss  of 

time. 

Their  doubts  were  confirmed  at  the  end  of 
half  an  hour,  when  they  were  convinced  they 
were  as  far  from  the  mountain  trail,  if  not 
actually  farther,  than  when  they  first  met. 
This  might  or  might  not  be  favorable.  If  it 
wound  among  the  foot-hills  to  the  more  open 
country  northward,  little  would  be  lost ;  but 
they  saw  that  if  they  wished  to  reach  the  fort 
before  night,  no  time  must  be  thrown  away. 

^'What's  the  use  of  playing  the  hypo- 
crite T'  suddenly  asked  Palmer,  turning  his 
head  and  looking  at  his  companion  with  an 
odd  expression  on  his  face. 

*' What  do  you  mean,  old  fellow  2" 


124  THE  PATH  IN  THE  E  A  VINE. 

''  You  are  waiting  for  me  to  refer  to  it,  and 
I  have  been  holding  back  for  yon,  bnt  you  are 
too  pig-headed  to  come  down  like  a  man  and 
own  up." 

Hillson's  looks  showed  his  continued  per- 
plexity. 

"Confound  it!  we  are  both  half  starved  to 
death,  though  we  haven' t  said  so.  Am  I  right, 
Lieutenant  Russell  Hillson  ?" 

''You  never  hit  the  head  of  the  nail  more 
squarely  in  all  your  life;  although  I  have 
had  nothing  to  say  I  have  kept  up  a  lively 
thinking  as  to  how  we  can  get  something  to 
fill  the  aching  void  within,  that  grows  steadily 
more  aching  each  half  hour." 

"  Have  you  found  the  solution  ?" ' 

''  JS'ot  yet,  though  I  don't  feel  that  the  time 
has  come  to  despair;  we  have  each  his  re- 
volver with  plenty  of  cartridges  that  have  not 
been  harmed  by  the  water.  This  is  a  country 
abounding  with  game,  but  it  takes  something 
bigger  than  pistols  to  bring  it  down," 

''  We  ought  to  get  nigh  enough  to  something 
eatable  to  wing  it  with  a  pistol  shot,"  replied 
Palmer,  resuming  his  lead  of  the  procession. 


THE  LOWEE  LEVEL.  125 

It  was  evident  by  tins  time  tliat  they  had 
left  most  of  the  mountains  behind  them,  and, 
though  they  saw  nothing  of  the  other  trail  to 
which  they  had  pinned  their  hopes,  they  were 
as  far  from  the  wild  precipitous  section  as 
though  they  had  followed  it  down  the  side  of 
the  towering  inaccessible  walls,  which  they 
were  able  to  pierce  only  at  the  one  point  where 
the  fissure  appeared  on  their  left. 

In  other  words,  the  mountain  trail  would 
have  imj)roved  their  jDresent  situation  only 
slightly  beyond  giving  them  the  i^ower  to 
locate  themselves   more  definitely. 

Having  exchanged  their  views  on  the  food 
question,  they  pushed  on  once  more,  neither 
speaking,  for  almost  half  an  hour.  By  that 
time  the  face  of  the  country  underwent  a 
marked  change. 

The  brush,  rocks,  bowlders,  and  roughness 
remained,  but  they  had  reached  a  much  lower 
level  than  at  any  time  since  morning.  The 
trail  not  only  ceased  its  downward  trend,  but 
was  broader  and  so  much  fainter  that  it  was 
evident  it  served  as  an  outlet  from  the  moun- 
tainous   regions,   and  that  the  Indians  who 


126      THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

were  accustomed  to  use  it  for  tliat  purpose 
diverged  to  the  riglit  and  left  after  reaching 
the  section  where  our  friends  now  found  them- 
selves. 

They  came  to  a  stop,  as  if  they  felt  a  crisis 
had  been  reached. 

*' My  proposition,"  said  the  elder,  **is  that 
we  go  into  camp  here  and  renew,  in  a  humble 
way,  the  hunt  on  which  we  started  yester- 
day." 

*'  I  am  afraid  Indians  are  not  far  off,"  replied 
his  companion. 

*'  I  have  seen  no  signs  of  them." 

*' But  that  signifies  nothing;  wears  follow- 
ing one  of  their  trails,  and  I  have  had  a 
suspicion  all  along  that  we  shall  hear  from 
the  Wild  Cat  before  we  reach  the  fort." 

''He  has  had  plenty  of  time  to  overtake  you 
if  he  wished  to  do  so  ;  besides,  he  won't  dare 
to  molest  us  while  he  is  alone." 

"  That's  the  point ;  he  is  likely  to  get  some 
of  his  warriors  together  and  follow  us  so  rapidly 
that  we  cannot  keep  out  of  his  way." 

"I  respectfully  renew  my  proposition  that 
we    go    upon    a    foraging    expedition,"    said 


THE  LOWER  LEVEL.  127 

Palmer,  who  felt  that  his  hunger  could  bear 
inattention  no  longer. 

''Very  well ;  I  am  as  anxious  for  food  as 
you,  though  it  is  mighty  little  chance  I  see  of 
getting  it." 


CHAPTER  XY. 

Am  ANTELOPE. 

THE  officers  had  campaigned  long  enongb. 
in  tlie  Northwest  to  neglect  no  precaution 
at  such  a  time.  Kitty  was  carefully  led  from 
the  trail  to  a  point  so  far  off  that  she  could 
not  be  seen  by  anyone  passing  along  the  path. 
Fortunately,  her  friends  found  a  spot  where 
considerable  grass  was  growing.  It  was 
welcome,  as  she  x^roved  by  beginning  to  crop 
it  without  delay. 

Reaching  the  main  path  once  more,  Palmer 
and  Hillson  devoted  several  minutes  to  blotting 
out  the  prints  of  her  hoofs.  This  could  not  be 
fully  done,  but  they  were  convinced  that  even 
a  Blackfoot  Indian  w^ould  have  to  scan  the 
ground  closely  to  detect  the  imj)ressions  of 
their  single  animal. 

In  obedience  to  a  whim  rather  than  as  the 
result  of  reasoning,  Hillson  knelt  down  and 
pressed  his  ear  to  the  ground. 

128 


AN   ANTELOPE.  129 

''By  gracious!"  he  exclaimed,  instantly 
rising  ;  "  someone  is  coming,  sure  enough  !  " 
As  he  spoke  he  made  a  leap  from  the  trail 
and  hastily  scrambled  to  the  dense  under- 
growth near  at  hand.  Behind  these  he  lay 
flat,  Palmer  placing  himself  by  his  side. 

''Are  you  sure  you  were  not  mistaken?" 
asked  the  elder,  after  \vaiting  a  minute. 

"The   sounds  were  too   distinct Sh ! 

does  tliat  look  as  if  I  was  in  error?" 

It  was  the  Wild  Cat  himself  who  rode  into 
sio'ht.  Behind  him  came  two  other  ponies, 
each  bearing  a  warrior  with  knife  and  ritie. 
They  were  as  grim  and  silent  as  spectres,  ap- 
parently gazing  straight  ahead  and  seeing 
nothing  not  in  front  of  their  horse's  noses. 

But  the  youths  needed  no  one  to  tell  them 
that  the  keen  black  eyes  of  each  took  in 
the  ground  on  either  hand  and  were  sure  to 
see  o])jects  that  would   escape  the   ordinary 

vision. 

The  question  which  each  officer  asked  him- 
self was  whether  any  or  all  were  likely  to 
detect  Kitty^s  footprints.     If  so,  what  would 

follow  % 
9 


130      THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

If  they  were  in  pursuit  of  Hill  son  (for  they 
had  no  reason  to  know  he  had  a  companion), 
they  were  not  likely  to  suspect  he  had  turned 
aside  from  the  main  trail,  and,  sharp  as  was 
their  eyesight,  they  were  not  scrutinizing  the 
ground  for  evidence  of  such  diversion. 

The  coming  of  the  Blackfeet  was  so  sudden 
that  Hillson  and  Palmer  were  given  no  time  to 
agree  upon  their  course  of  action,  but  each 
held  his  only  weapon  grasped  in  his  right 
hand  and  ready  for  instant  use.  Neither  was 
willing  to  run  from  these  vagrants,  even  though 
they  were  veteran  warriors  each  armed  with 
a  deadly  rifle.  The  moment  the  miscreants 
wheeled  from  the  path  they  would  rise  to  con- 
front them  and  await  their  business. 

But  the  threatened  collision  did  not  occur, 
for  the  reason  that  the  Wild  Cat  and  his  com- 
panions rode  straight  on,  their  ponies  on  a 
walk,  until  they  passed  from  sight  a  short 
way  beyond.  Then  Hillson  and  Palmer 
looked  at  each  other  before  rising  from  the 
ground. 

''  I  would  give  considerable,"  said  the  latter, 
*'  to  know  the  real  meaning  of  that ;  we  are 


AN  ANTELOPE.  131 

acting  as  though  they  are  enemies  seeking  our 
lives,  when,  after  all,  we  may  be  mistaken." 

"  We  know  the  Wild  Cat  is  bad  enough  to 
shoot  his  own  brother,  but  it  is  not  impossible 
that  he  is  afraid  of  the  consequences  of  putting 
an  extinguisher  on  us." 

Should  it  turn  out  that  the  Blackfeet  were 
hunting  for  the  officers,  the  latter  saw  the  risk 
of  hunting  game  in  the  neighborhood ;  and 
yet,  great  as  was  the  danger,  they  undertook 
to  do  so  within  the  next  five  minutes.  Not 
only  that,  but  they  parted  company  the  better 
to  ensure  success. 

Palmer  in  one  respect  was  not  disappointed. 
He  had  picked  his  way  only  a  short  distance, 
after  parting  from  his  friend,  when  a  soft 
rustling  in  the  vegetation  directly  in  front 
warned  him  he  was  approaching  some  man  or 
animal.  Hoping  it  was  the  latter,  he  sank  on 
his  hands  and  knees  and  began  feeling  every 
inch  that  he  passed.  Fortunately  there  was 
no  wind  blowing,  so  his  scent  could  not  be 
carried  to  the  game,  if  such  it  proved  to  be. 

The  anxious  hunter's  heart  fluttered  a 
minute  later,   when  he  caught  the  indistinct 


132  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVHSTE. 

outlines  of  some  creature  still  in  a  direct  line 
with  his  approach.  So  great  was  his  agitation 
that  for  a  minute  or  two  he  believed  he  must 
give  way  to  an  attack  of  ^'  buck  fever."  But 
by  a  resolute  exercise  of  the  will  he  overcame 
that  strange,  nervous  weakness,  and,  with  the 
steadiness  of  a  veteran,  resumed  his  painfully 
slow  advance. 

The  fever  threatened  him  again  when  he 
identified  the  game  as  a  solitary  antelope 
cropping  the  tender  shoots  and  leaves  from 
some  bushes  by  which  it  was  surrounded. 

Ah,  if  he  could  but  bring  it  down,  what 
a  royal  feast  he  and  Hillson  would  make ! 
His  hunger  was  now  so  keen  that  he  cared 
nothing  for  the  Wild  Cat  and  his  warriors. 
There  might  have  been  a  hundred  of  the  most 
venomous  dusky  vagrants  camped  within  a 
stone's  throw,  but  he  would  not  abandon  the 
chance  of  securing  the  banquet  for  which  he 
longed  with  a  yearning  that  was  felt  through 
every  fibre  of  his  being. 

The  delicacy  of  the  lieutenant's  situation 
will  be  appreciated.  Had  he  possessed  his 
Winchester  at  the  moment  of  detecting  the 


AN  ANTELOPE.  133 

antelope,  lie  could  have  broiiglit  it  down  with 
ease,  but  he  must  get  still  closer  before  he 
could  use  his  pistol  effectively. 

Could  he  do  it  ? 

Since  an  absolute  calm  prevailed,  it  would 
seem  that  he  had  only  to  make  his  advance 
noiseless.  The  antelope  kind  are  not  only 
gifted  with  wonderfully  fine  eyesight  and 
scent,  but  their  hearing  is  so  fine  that  one  finds 
it  hard  to  understand  how  a  hunter  is  ever 
able  to  bring  them  dow^n. 

Palmer  glanced  at  the  ground  immediately 
in  front,  and  so  far  as  he  could  judge  it  was 
favorable.  With  hardly  a  X)ause,  therefore, 
he  resumed  creeping  forward,  his  weapon  in 
hand,  for  he  was  now  so  close  that  he  had 
decided  to  fire  should  the  creature  start,  even 
though  he  was  not  as  near  as  he  wished. 

It  was  a  rare  piece  of  good  fortune  that  he 
had  been  able  to  catch  sight  of  the  antelope, 
and  if  it  were  once  scared  away,  there  was  no 
possible  chance  of  gaining  another  shot  at  it. 

The  timid  creature  continued  browsing  for  a 
minute  or  two  longer,  as  if  in  perfect  security. 
Then,  all  at  once,  it  stopped  and  raised  its 


134  THE  PATH  IN  THE  K  A  VINE. 

head,  as  if  listening.  Many  species  of  game 
make  a  practice  of  this,  which  is  not  a  sign 
that  they  have  heard  anything,  but  rather  an 
ordinary  precaution  against  the  approach  of 
enemies. 

Palmer's  heart  was  in  his  mouth,  and  he 
brought  his  x3istol  to  the  front. 

"  Whatever  happens,"  he  thought,  *'  I  shall 
give  you  a  shot,  but  I  prefer  not  to  do  so 
just  yet." 

The  creature  resumed  its  browsing,  as  if 
satisfied,  and  understanding  its  meaning,  he 
began  moving  forward  once  more  with  a  slow- 
ness which  made  his  progress  like  that  of  the 
hour  hand  around  the  face  of  a  clock. 

But  almost  at  the  same  moment,  the  ante- 
lope ceased  browsing  again,  and  threw  up  its 
head,  its  Jaws  half  tilled  with  autumn  leaves 
and  shoots.  It  held  those  jaws  motionless, 
that  nothing  should  interfere  with  its  delicacy 
of  hearing. 

"  That  means  something,"  was  the  truthful 
conclusion  of  the  alarmed  Palmer;  "it  is 
suspicious." 

He  had  not  detected  the  slightest  rustling 


AN   ANTELOPE.  135 

made  by  liimself,  and  yet  that  might  have  been 
the  case,  while  the  extraordinary  hearing  of 
the  antelope  gave  it  warning. 

The  hunter  would  have  asked  for  only  ten 
feet  more  before  using  his  i)istol.  That 
attained,  he  was  confident  he  could  bring  down 
the  game.  As  the  matter  stood,  he  considered 
the  chances  of  a  miss  or  hit  as  about  even. 

The  pretty  creature  held  its  attitude  of 
intense  attention  only  a  minute  or  two,  when 
it  whirled  like  a  flash  of  sunlight  and  was 
gone. 

It  flight  was  amazingly  quick,  but  Palmer 
had  been  expecting  it  and  was  prepared.  The 
instant  it  turned  he  let  fly  with  three  chambers 
of  his  Colt.  He  discharged  them  with  the 
utmost  celerity,  but  the  animal  was  out  of 
sight  when  the  last  bullet  sped  after  it,  simply 
following  after  the  others  with  which  he  had 
managed  to  secure  something  resembling  an 
aim. 

The  disappointment  was  so  bitter  that 
Palmer  could  not  submit  without  a  desj^erate 
effort  to  retrieve  it.  At  another  time  he  would 
have  laughed  at  the  hunter,  placed  as  he  was, 


136  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

wlio  tried  to  gain  a  second  chance  to  bag  an 
antelope  with  a  Colt  revolver  as  his  only 
weapon.  Leaping  to  his  feet  he  dashed  after 
the  fleeing  game  as  though  he  expected  to  run 
it  down  by  his  own  superior  fleetness.  It  was 
not  until  he  had  stumbled  and  fallen  several 
times,  and  was  panting  from  his  severe  ex- 
haustion, that  he  paused  with  a  full  under- 
standing of  the  folly  of  the  task. 

''  What  a  fool !  "  he  muttered  ;  '^  that  ante- 
telope  is  a  mile  away  by  this  time  and  still 
going.  I  may  hunt  for  a  week  without  getting 
such  a  chance  again.  If  I  did  hit  it  with  one 
of  my  charges,  the  hurt  was  only  enough  to 
lend  wings  to  its  flight.  I  hope,"  he  added 
with  a  sigh,  ^'that  Hillson  has  done  better, 
but  I  haven't  heard  anything  from  his 
pistol." 

He  recalled  that  he  had  travelled  a  goodly 
distance  from  the  spot  where  he  separated 
from  his  friend,  and  that  unless  he  used  great 
care  they  would  become  lost  to  each  other. 
While  that  might  mean  nothing  serious,  it 
ensured  a  long  and  laborious  tramp  to  the  fort, 
during  which  he  must  suffer  a  great  deal. 


AN  ANTELOPE.  137 

He  recalled,  too,  another  alarming  prob- 
ability. 

^*  What  will  the  AYild  Cat  and  his  warriors 
think  of  the  report  of  my  pistol,  for  they  must 
have  heard  it?  If  they  mean  any  crooked 
business,  I  have  given  them  valuable  help. 

''Come  to  think,  though,"  he  added  grimly, 
*4t  is  likely  to  prove  of  no  assistance  at  all. 
Suppose  they  hastened  to  the  spot  where  they 
heard  the  firing,  they  would  have  no  more 
chance  of  overtaking  me  than  I  had  of  running 
down  the  antelope." 


JLj 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

AN  EXCHANGE. 

lEUTENANT    PALMER  sat  down  on  a 

J  huge  stone  until  he  could  recover  his 
breath.  He  did  not  need  the  half  blanket  he 
had  managed  to  retain  during  his  hurried 
movements,  for  he  was  in  a  warmer  glow  than 
he  had  experienced  for  a  long  time. 

He  was  about  to  rise  for  the  purpose  of  seek- 
ing his  companion,  with  the  advice  that  they 
were  only  throwing  away  time  in  their  efforts 
to  secure  game,  and  urging  him  to  hasten  to 
the  fort,  when  he  heard  a  low,  bird-like  whistle, 
apparently  from  a  point  behind  him. 

His  first  thought  was  that  it  was  made  by 
some  bird,  but  something  peculiar  in  the  tone 
and  its  manner  of  repetition  reminded  him  of 
the  signal  which  he  and  Hillson  sometimes 
used  when  on  their  hunting  excursions. 

**  It  must  be  he,"  he  said,  after  the  call  had 

138 


AN  EXCHANGE.  139 

been  repeated  several  times  ;  "  anyway  I  shall 
soon  know." 

He  replied,  and  the  next  moment  his  face 
lit  up. 

"  I  might  have  known  it  was  Hillson  ;  but  I 
don't  understand  the  need  of  his  working 
business  in  that  style." 

By  occasional  signalling  to  each  other,  the 
young  officers  kept  track  of  their  mutual 
positions  and  were  able  to  meet  without  a  pro- 
longed search. 

"I  heard  your  pistol,"  said  Hillson,  "but  I 
don't  see  any  game." 

"Nor  I  either;  it  was  another  failure,  my 
boy  ;  I  hoped  that  you  had  met  with  more 
success." 

"I  haven't  had  the  first  glimpse  of  anything 
of  the  kind,  though  I  neglected  nothing  I  could 
think  of  ;  there  isn't  much  fun  in  this  kind  of 
sport,  Palmer." 

"  Why  were  you  so  guarded  in  signalling  to 
me?" 

"  So  the  Blackfeet  wouldn't  notice  it." 

"  Were  they  anywhere  near  ? " 

"There  are  five  of  them  encamped  within  a 


140      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

hundred  yards  of  where  we  saw  the  Wild  Cat 
and  that  couple  ride  past." 

Palmer  was  astonished,  as  he  might  well  be, 
and  his  friend  explained  : 

''  You  had  been  gone  only  a  little  while,  and 
I  was  groping  around  for  game,  when  I 
came  within  a  hair  of  stumbling  right  into  the 
encampment  of  redskins.  I  was  just  in  time 
to  save  myself,  when  I  took  some  careful 
observations.  The  first  thing  I  noticed  Avas 
that  the  Wild  Cat  and  those  whom  we  saw 
were  there.  They  had  dismounted  and  their 
ponies  were  cropping  the  grass  near  by.  All 
five  of  the  warriors  seemed  to  be  holding  an 
earnest  talk  about  something,  which  of  course 
was  beyond  my  finding  out." 

''You  had  no  means  of  judging  whether 
they  were  friends  or  enemies  ?  " 

"  None,  but  one  fact  interested  me  ;  the  two 
Indians  that  were  first  there  had  been  cooking 
some  kind  of  game.  I  saw  fragments  of  the 
feast  lying  about,  and  the  faint  odor  I  caught 
drove  me  almost  frantic.  I  did  not  dare  go 
forward  and  beg  for  a  share,  and,  while  trying 
to  decide  on  what  was  best  to  do,  it  occurred 


AN  EXCHANGE.  141 

to  me  that  yon  might  spoil  everything  by 
tiring  your  revolver.  They  would  hear  the 
report,  and,  if  they  wanted  to  find  you,  the 
means  was  thus  furnished. 

"I  was  so  nervous  over  the  fear  of  such  a 
mistake  on  your  part,  that  I  stole  away  from 
the  camp  and  set  out  to  find  you.     Before  I 
could  do  so,  I  was  startled  by  hearing  the  three 
shots  from  your  pistol.     I  started  on  a  run  to 
overtake  you,  but  you  travelled  too  fast  for 
me  ;  so  I  saved  my  strength  and  fell  back  on  the 
signal  which  I  was  sure  you  would  recognize." 
"We  have  been  acting  on  the   theory  all 
along,"    said   Palmer,    "that    every    Indian 
whom  we  meet  or  see  in  this  part  of  the  world 
is  a  foe.     I  believe  we  are  mistaken,  though  it 
is  erring  on  the  safe  side.     Inasmuch  as  there 
is  no  chance  of  our  getting  any  game  without 
rifles,  I  propose  that  we  take  Kitty  and  strike 
a  bee  line  for  the  fort.     We  have   not  been 
deprived  so  very  long  of  food,  though  I  am 
sure  neither  of  us  could  be  any  hungrier  if  we 
hadn't  tasted  a  morsel  for  a  week." 

''If  we  find  our  appetites  too  much  for  us 
we  can  fall  back  on  our  shoes." 


142      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

*'  Or  Kitty,"  suggested  Palmer  significantly. 

But  her  owner  shook  his  head  : 

^'  We  must  approach  much  nearer  famishing 
before  a  hair  of  her  body  shall  be  harmed." 

The  couple  found  themselves  close  to  the  trail 
over  which  they  had  passed  some  time  before. 
They  walked  briskly  in  the  direction  taken 
by  the  Wild  Cat  and  his  companions,  of  wdiom 
nothing  was  seen.  Reaching  the  i^oint  where 
the  mare  had  been  turned  aside,  Hillson  said  : 

*' Before  making  our  start  for  home,  let's 
have  another  try  for  food  ;  come  with  me." 

Without  asking  for  any  explanation,  Palmer 
kept  company  with  his  friend,  who  speedily 
left  the  trail  and  made  a  wide  detour  to  the 
left.  By  and  by  he  paused  long  enough  to 
whisper : 

''  We  are  approaching  the  camp  I  told  you 
about." 

''Do  you  understand  the  danger?"  asked 
Palmer. 

''I  am  quite  sure  I  do,"  was  the  surprised 
answer. 

''  I  mean  the  danger  to  the  Indians  .^" 

"How?" 


ATSr  EXCHANGE.  143 

*'If  I  get  a  sniff  of  that  game  you  told  me 
about,  I  won't  be  satisfied  with  anything  less 
than  it  all;  they  will  probably  refuse  ;  then 
I  will  become  irrestrainable  and  woe  to  the 
red  men  ! " 

Hillson  smiled,  but  uttered  no  comment. 
He  had  pushed  only  a  short  way  further, 
when  he  said ; 

"That's  good;  it's  just  what  I  hoped,  but 
hardly  expected." 

If  Lieutenant  Palmer,  after  firing  his  three 
ineffective  shots  at  the  frightened  antelope, 
were  told  he  had  hit  the  "bull's  eye,"  he  could 
not  have  appreciated  the  jest ;  but  he  now 
saw  he  had  builded  better  than  he  knew  :  the 
miss  was  the  very  best  thing  that  could  have 
happened. 

It  drew  the  attention  of  the  Blackfeet  to  the 
fact  that  white  men  were  near  at  hand  ;  for 
the  short,  sharp  crack  of  their  revolvers  was 
familiar  to  them.  Instead  of  setting  off  in 
haste  after  the  one  that  had  discharged  the 
weapon,  however,  they  made  toward  another 
point  of  the  compass.  It  was  not  their  inten- 
tion to  run  into  any  ambush  set  for  them  by 


144      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAYINE. 

the  cunning  palefaces.  They  were  not  the 
ones  to  break  the  laws  until  an  opportunity- 
was  given  to  gauge  the  probable  consequences. 

They  were  gone,  and,  although  the  proceed- 
ing of  the  young  officers  savored  of  rashness, 
they  hastened  to  the  deserted  camp,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  help  themselves  to  the  fragments 
of  the  feast  which  were  plentifully  scattered 
around. 

It  cannot  be  said  that  the  meal  was  the 
choicest  of  which  they  had  latel}^  partaken, 
but  their  intense  hunger  gave  it  a  relish  which 
no  condiment  ever  invented  could  equal. 
They  ate  rapidly,  with  furtive  glances  around 
lest  the  red  men  should  pounce  upon  them 
before  they  were  aware. 

Nothing  occurred  to  alarm  them,  for,  with 
all  their  cunning,  the  Wild  Cat  and  his  war- 
riors were  not  likely  to  suspect  any  such  flank 
movement  as  that  named.  The  meal  was 
speedily  completed  and  Hillson  and  Palmer 
were  ready  to  push  their  return  to  Fort  Assina- 
boine  to  the  utmost. 

And  just  then,  when  it  would  seem  that  all 
real  danger  was  over,  the  young  officers  came 


AlSr  EXCHANGE.  145 


near  committing  a  blunder  which  threatened 
their  overthrow.  Palmer  halted  at  the  edge  of 
the  trail  to  watch  against  the  Blackfeet,  while 
Hillson  hurried  after  his  mare,  which  had  been 
left  only  a  short  distance  off. 

The  first  surprise  came  when  he  reached  the 
place,  and,  after  thoroughly  examining  it,  saw 
nothing  of  the  animal.  He  walked  back  and 
forth,  pronouncing  her  name  in  a  guarded 
voice,  but  there  was  no  answering  neigh. 

Finally  he  stooped  down  and  studied  a  faint 
impression  beside  the  one  made  by  the  hoof  of 
his  matchless  steed,  where  the  ground  was  still 
moist  and  soft. 

*'Just  what  I  feared!"  he  muttered, 
straightening  up  ;  ''  that's  the  mark  of  a  moc- 
cason.  .  While  Palmer  and  I  were  helping 
ourselves  to  dinner  the  Blackfeet  were  helping 
themselves  to  my  property  ;  but  they  haven't 
got  away  with  it  yet,"  he  added,  with  a  flash 
of  his  handsome  eyes;  *'and  if  the  court 
knows  herself,  and  she  thinks  she  do,  there 
there  will  be  a  first  class  row  before  that  little 
thing  is  accomplished." 


10 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  TOSS   OF  A   NICKEL. 

WHILE  Lieutenant  Hillson  was  searching 
for  his  pet  mare,  Kitty,  Lieutenant 
Palmer  was  holding  his  place  as  sentinel  along 
the  trail  only  a  short  way  off. 

He  was  wondering  at  the  delay  of  his  friend, 
when,  to  his  amazement,  a  Blackfoot  warrior 
came  riding  along  the  path  from  the  north. 
He  appeared  so  suddenly  that  the  young 
officer  had  no  time  to  get  out  of  his  sight.  He 
therefore  made  the  best  of  it,  and  assumed  a 
boldness  which  would  have  become  him  had 
he  been  at  the  head  of  a  squad  of  well-armed 
trooi)ers. 

Palmer's  supposition  was  that  the  Indian 
was  the  first  of  the  party  about  which  Hillson 
had  told  him  only  a  few  minutes  before,  but 
when  the  scamp  had  advanced  to  a  point  nearly 
opposite,  he  perceived  he  was  alone. 


THE  TOSS   OF   A  NICKEL.  14? 

He  perceived  also  that  the  pony  which  he 
was  riding  was  Kitty,  and  Palmer  rose  to 
the  situation  at   once. 

There  are  no  more  inveterate  horse  thieves 
in  the  world  than  the  vagrant  Indians  of 
the  West  and  Northwest.  It  was  evident 
that  this  particular  one  had  stumbled  upon 
the  valuable  mare,  and  was  making  off  with 
her. 

Lieutenant  Palmer  stepped  into  the  path  in 
front  of  Kitty,  who  gave  a  faint  whinny  of 
recognition,  and,  levelling  his  revolver  at  the 
amazed  redskin,  said  : 

"  Come  down  out  of  that  or  I  will  let  day- 
light through  you ! " 

The  Blackfoot  may  have  been  ignorant  of 
the  niceties  of  the  English  language,  but  no 
words  were  required  to  make  clear  the  mean- 
ing of  the  young  officer.  He  slid  from  the 
saddle  as  though  jerked  therefrom,  and  hast- 
ened to  say : 

"Gib  horse — good  friend— tanks  !  " 

"  That's  all  right ;  off  with  you,  or  this  gun 
of  mine  may  accidentally  discharge  itself  and 
you'll  get  hurt." 


148  THE  PATH  IlSr  THE  EAVITTE. 

The  warrior,  completely  flanked  by  the 
bluffing  of  the  bareheaded  young  man  in  his 
half  blanket,  was  glad  enough  to  escape  with 
a  whole  body,  and  he  skurried  along  the  trail 
with  a  speed  which  quickly  took  him  out  of 
sight. 

Meanwhile  Hillson  had  caught  the  sound  of 
voices,  and  lost  no  time  in  hurrying  to  the 
spot  to  learn  what  it  meant.  His  surprise  and 
delight  was  great. 

''I  couldn't  have  done  better  myself,"  he 
said;  "but  I  am  afraid  we  are  not  through 
with  the  Wild  Cat  and  the  rest." 

*'It  wasn't  he  that  I  compelled  to  slip  out 
of  that  saddle  a  good  deal  quicker  than  he 
got  in." 

"But  he  belongs  to  his  gang  ;  he  is  another 
of  those  vagrant  Indians  that  are  the  curse  of 
the  reservations." 

"Which  being  the  case,  it  strikes  me  this 
is  a  good  time  for  Kitty  to  carry  double." 

Hillson  compelled  his  friend  to  take  his 
place  in  the  saddle,  and  was  on  the  point  of 
taking  his  seat  behind  him  when  he  changed 
liis  mind. 


THE  TOSS   OF  A  NICKEL.  149 

''What's  that  for?"  asked  Palmer. 

''We  can't  travel  very  fast  just  here,  so  I 
will  walk  ahead.  As  soon  as  we  reach  better, 
ground  I'll  join  you." 

The  plan  seemed  a  good  one,  and  Palmer 
consented.  He  really  needed  the  rest  more 
than  his  companion,  while  it  struck  the  latter 
that,  in  the  event  of  a  meeting  with  the  Wild 
Cat  or  any  of  the  "  Dog  Indians,"  he  could  act 
more  effectively  on  his  feet.  Two  officers  on 
the  same  steed  cannot  look  very  formid- 
able, no  matter  how  hard  they  may  try  to 
do  so. 

The  situation  of  the  young  men  was  unique. 
Like  other  white  men,  they  were  accustomed 
to  travel  back  and  forth  over  the  reservation, 
with  no  more  thought  of  molestation  from  the 
Indians  than  if  journeying  in  a  railway  train. 
While  hundreds  of  the  aboriginal  Americans 
are  engaged  in  farming,  and  are  j)eaceful  and 
law  abiding,  the  "Dog  Indians"  prefer  horse 
thieving  and  all  manner  of  outlawry.  It  is  the 
fear  of  the  white  men  that  keeps  most  of  the 
savages  on  the  reservations  docile.  Those  who 
will  not  be  restrained  wait  till  they  are  far 


150  THE  PATH  IN  THE   EAYINE. 

enough  from  the  forts  to  feel  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  military. 

While,  therefore,  Hillson  and  Palmer  con- 
sidered themselves  in  peril  so  long  as  they 
were  in  the  mountains,  where  their  dead  bodies 
might  lie  weeks  undiscovered,  they  knew  that 
the  nearer  they  placed  themselves  to  Fort 
Assinaboine  the  less  likely  were  they  to  be 
inj  ured. 

It  followed  that  the  true  course  was  to 
decrease  that  distance  as  fast  as  it  could  be 
done.  Indeed,  they  believed  that  only  a  few 
miles  were  needed  to  ensure  their  safety. 

Hillson  walked  briskly  along  the  path  which 
for  the  time  led  directly  toward  the  fort. 
Palmer  following  with  Kitty.  The  Blackfeet 
were  quite  near,  and  it  might  be  there  were 
others  besides  those  whom  they  had  seen,,  who 
would  be  glad  to  fire  a  stealthy  shot  at  the 
young  men,  provided  they  were  safe  against 
punishment. 

Palmer's  place  in  the  saddle  was  a  vast 
improvement,  so  far  as  comfort  went,  over 
that  of  walking,  and  he  appreciated  the  kind- 
ness of  his  friend,  who  insisted  that  he  should 


THE  TOSS  OF  A   NICKEL.  151 

ride  ;  but,  all  the  same,  lie  felt  that  his  situa- 
tion was  the  more  dangerous  because  of  its 
prominence,  and  the  fact  that  the  Blackfeet, 
as  he  believed,  were  likely  to  make  their 
attack  or  demonstration  from  the  rear. 

But  fully  a  half  mile  was  passed  without 
the  first  evidence  of  the  proximity  of  their 
enemies.  Palmer  continually  looked  behind 
him,  while  his  friend,  playing  the  part  of 
guide,  pushed  on  at  a  brisk  gait,  his  hopes 
rising  the  further  he  went. 

A  singular  feature  was  noticed  by  both. 
The  trail  had  grown  fainter,  until  at  one  time 
it  promised  to  disappear  altogether  ;  but  it 
now  became  more  distinct,  suggesting  that 
the  Indians,  who  had  gradually  separated 
after  coming  down  from  the  mountains,  had 
resumed  the  process  of  coming  together 
again. 

"Ah  !  "  said  Hillson,  abruptly  halting  and 
looking  around  with  a  smile,  "  you  know  the 
old  truth,  that  there  are  always  two  paths  or 
roads  in  our  front,  and  it  is  for  us  to  choose 
the  right  or  wrong  one." 

"I  think  I  have  heard  something  of  the 


152  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVIISTE. 

kind  during  my  early  childhood,"  replied 
Palmer  from  the  saddle. 

''We  have  now  an  illustration,"  added  the 
younger,  repeating  the  dramatic  gestures  and 
manner  of  which  he  was  an  exponent  when  a 
country  school-boy. 

"  I  observe." 

Palmer  saw  his  reference.  The  clearly 
marked  trail  bifurcated  directly  in  front  of 
them.  The  angle  was  so  gradual  that  the 
branches  diverged  like  the  sides  of  the  letter 
V.  Since  one  was  probably  the  more  direct 
course  to  the  fort,  they  saw  the  need  of  mak- 
ing a  right  selection,  though  in  that  respect 
the  question  was  not  one  of  life  and  death. 

But  when  they  had  consulted  a  minute  or 
two,  each  confessed  to  a  strange  belief  that, 
after  all,  it  had  become  a  question  of  life  and 
death. 

They  had  accepted  the  absence  of  all  signs 
of  the  Blackfeet  as  proof  that  the  vagrants 
dared  follow  them  no  farther  because  of  the 
approach  to  Fort  Assinaboine  ;  but  now,  when 
they  came  to  consult  over  the  matter,  they 
feared   it   was   another   of    tlie    treacherous 


THE  TOSS   OF  A  NICKEL.  153 

schemes  of  the  Wild  Cat,  whose  resentment 
over  the  bluffing  received  by  him  and  his  war- 
riors would  rankle  in  his  breast  until  he  found 
the  means  of  resenting  the  insult. 

"  Somewhere  along  one  of  these  trails,"  said 
Hillson,  "  that  miscreant  has  laid  an  ambush, 
and  he  and  his  brother  dogs  are  waiting  for  us 
to  walk  into  it." 

"  But  along  ^D7l^c7l  trail  1 "  asked  Palmer. 

"Aye,  thafs  the  question  to  be  decided; 
you  see  that  the  chances  for  and  against  us 
are  even.  Now,  if  the  Wild  Cat  fixes  upon 
one  he  has  some  reason  for  it ;  what  is  that 
reason  1 " 

''He  has  concluded  that  we  will  naturally 
take  the  most  direct  road  to  Assinaboine  ;  but, 
so  far  as  I  can  judge,  there  is  no  choice  in  that 
respect." 

"  Perhaps  he  will  decide  that  we  will  follow 
the  one  most  travelled." 

"  And  there  is  little  choice  in  that  respect." 

"Then,"  continued  Palmer,  "it  is  more 
than  likely  that  he  has  laid  his  ambush  along 
both  paths,  and  the  danger  from  one  is  as  great 
as  from  the  other." 


154  THE  I*ATH   IN   THE  EAVINE. 

''It  may  be;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think 
lie  has  not  enough  warriors  to  divide  in  that 
fashion,   but  has  concentrated  them  at    one 

S130t." 

''If  they  were  white  men  they  w^ould  not  go 
through  all  this  fol  de  rol,  when  there  are  a 
hundred  places  already  passed  by  us  that 
would  give  them  secure  shelter;  but  that's 
the  Indian  of  it,  and  there's  but  the  one  way 
to  solve  the  puzzle." 

Hunting  through  his  pockets,  which  were 
beginning  to  dry  after  their  saturation  in  the 
torrent,  Palmer  brought  forth  a  nickel  half 
dime,  w^hich  he  had  carried  for  months  as  a 
pocket  piece. 

"If  head  turns  up,"  said  he,  balancing  it  on 
bis  thumb  and  forefinger  and  looking  down 
at  his  companion,  ' '  w^e  wheel  to  the  right ;  if 
tail,  we  take  the  left." 

"  I'm  agreed,"  replied  Hillson,  putting  np  a 
silent  prayer,  as  did  the  other,  that  Providence 
would  decide  it  aright. 

The  coin  went  fluttering  aloft,  and  Hillson 
bent  over  as  it  dropped  on  the  ground  by 
Kitty's  left  forefoot. 


THE  TOSS   OF  A  NICKEL.  155 

*^  Head  it  is,"  lie  said,  picking  it  up  and  re- 
turning it  to  tlie  owner ;  *'  follow  your  leader." 

Hillson  walked  briskly  along  the  right  trail, 
lioj)ef  111  that  the  choice  had  been  the  right  one, 
but  altogether  too  sensible  to  believe  there 
was  no  liability  of  mistake.  It  was  at  his 
suggestion  that  Palmer  descended  from  the 
saddle  and  took  his  place  behind  him  on  foot, 
where  the  prominence  of  the  two  was  the 
same. 

Kitty,  who  seemed  to  know  what  all  this 
meant,  walked  demurely  behind  her  friends, 
who  arranged  to  keep  her  quite  near.  She 
had  proven  her  intelligent  vigilance  so  fre- 
quently that  great  reliance  was  placed  upon 
her. 

It  is  hardly  in  the  power  of  the  brainiest 
horse  to  detect  the  presence  of  a  party  of 
Indians  in  hiding  some  distance  off,  and  whose 
training  enables  them  to  lie  as  motionless  as 
if  they  were  not  breathing  the  breath  of  life, 
but  the  dumb  brutes,  as  they  are  called,  have 
performed  more  than  one  wonderful  exploit 
in  that  line,  and  Kitty  herself  had  a  record  of 
w^hich  any  of  her  species  might  feel  proud. 


CHAPTEE  XYIIL 

AT  FOKT  ASSINABOINE. 

FOR  three  hundred  yards  the  journey  along 
the  dimly  marked  trail  was  pushed  in 
silence,  the  senses  of  the  lieutenants  seemingly 
concentrated  into  those  of  sight  and  hearing. 
There  was  not  a  sjDot  on  either  hand  where  an 
Indian  could  not  have  remained  in  absolute 
hiding,  while  the  officers  walked  in  review 
before  his  levelled  rifle  without  seeing  their 
peril.  Why,  therefore,  the  Blackfeet  should 
have  gone  through  all  this  '^red  tape"  had 
no  other  explanation  than  that  hinted  by 
Lieutenant  Palmer. 

Kitty  was  fully  as  alert,  but  the  time  soon 
came  when  their  friends  were  satisfied  that 
either  there  had  been  no  danger  at  all,  or  they 
had  successfully  flanked  it. 

*'  More  than  likely  we  were  mistaken,"  said 
Hillson,  suggesting  that  his  friend  should 
remount. 

156 


AT  FORT  ASSINABOINE.  157 

*'We  can  believe  so  now,  but  could  not 
a  while  ago  ;  I  will  walk  a  little  farther  ;  I 
have  rested  enough,  and  we  may  as  well  save 

the  strength  of  the  mare " 

At  that  very  moment,  when  they  felt  more 
assured  than  at  any  time  since  setting  out  on 
their  return,  the  crack  of  a  rifle  broke  the  still- 
ness on  their  left,  and  they  heard  the  whistle 
of  the  bullet  which  passed  between  their 
faces. 

''Let's  run!"  whispered  Hillson,  ducking 
and  moving  swiftly  along  the  trail  in  momen- 
tary expectation  of  other  shots. 

Looking  around  after  running  a  brief  way, 
he  saw  Kitty  near  him,  as  his  ears  had  already 
told  him  she  was,  but  Palmer  was  missing. 

"Can  it  be?"  he  asked  himself,  straighten- 
ing up  with  a  suspicion  of  the  cause,  and  dis- 
covering the  next  moment  that  his  suspicion 
was  right. 

Palmer  was  so  enraged  by  the  unexpected 
shot  that  for  the  moment  he  forgot  himself, 
and  throwing  his  prudence  to  the  winds, 
dashed  through  the  undergrowth  and  around 
the  rocks,  revolver  in  hand. 


158  THE  PATH   IN  THE   RAVINE. 

''Confound  you!"  lie  exclaimed,  'Til 
teach  you  that  assassination  don't  pay." 

But  the  dusky  miscreant  had  been  quick  to 
detect  his  peril,  and  while  the  smoke  was  curl- 
ing upward  from  the  muzzle  of  his  rifle,  he 
made  off.  His  pursuer  caught  only  a  glimpse 
of  the  figure  as  it  vanished,  but  he  let  fly  with 
every  chamber  of  his  weapon,  his  success 
being  about  the  same  as  that  which  attended 
his  effort  to  bring  down  the  antelope. 

''It  wasn't  a  prudent  thing  to  do,"  he  re- 
marked, as  he  rejoined  Hillson,  "but  such 
treachery  is  unbearable." 

"The  Wild  Cat  did  what  we  might  have 
feared  ;  while  he  and  most  of  his  warriors  lay 
in  ambush  along  the  other  trail,  he  did  not 
leave  this  entirely  unguarded  ;  but  I  am  sure 
we  have  seen  the  last  of  him." 

"For  the  present;  but  if  we  continue  our 
hunting  excursions  among  the  Bear  Paw 
Mountains,  we  are  sure  to  meet  him  again." 

"  Do  you  propose  to  give  up  our  sport  on 
account  oiliim  f  "  asked  Hillson  reproachfully, 
after  they  had  gone  some  distance  farther  in 
the  direction  of  the  fort. 


AT  FORT  ASSINABOIISrE.  159 

"Hardly;  just  as  soon  as  we  can  get  per- 
mission for  another  trip  I  am  ready  to  try  it 
again." 

^'  And  I  am  with  you  ;  we  shall  have  to  lie 
by  several  days  for  repairs  ;  I  have  a  horse 
and  gun  to  pay  for,  but  there  are  others  to  be 
had,  as  well  as  Winchester  rifles,  and  Kitty  is 
always  at  your  service." 

The  officers  were  in  the  situation  of  those 
who  have  received  a  challenge  from  a  foe 
whom  they  despised.  The  Wild  Cat  had  given 
them  to  understand  that  when  they  ventured 
upon  a  hunt  in  that  wild  region  they  did  so  at 
their  peril.  They  were  eager  to  take  up  the 
gage  of  battle,  and  were  certain  to  do  so  on 
the  first  opportunity. 

But  at  present  their  task  was  to  reach  Fort 
Assinaboine  with  the  least  possible  delay.  A 
good  many  miles  lay  before  them,  and  the  way 
was  rough  and  hard  to  travel,  but  they  now 
knew  where  they  were,  and  were  not  only  in 
no  danger  of  going  astray,  but  were  without 
fear  of  the  Indians,  with  whom  they  had  had 
more  than  one  lively  scrimmage,  though  fortu- 
nately without  harm  to  either. 


160  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAYINE. 

The  weather,  which  had  been  only  moder- 
ately cold,  became  more  severe.  By  the  mid- 
dle of  the  afternoon  the  temperature  had  fallen 
fully  ten  degrees.  Many  were  the  congratula- 
tions they  uttered  because  of  the  single  blan- 
ket between  them.  Even  with  that,  however, 
they  suffered  not  a  little,  and  no  returning 
wanderers  were  ever  more  pleased  to  reach  a 
safe  haven  than  they  were  that  evening,  when, 
at  last,  they  found  themselves  within  their 
comfortable  quarters  at  Fort  Assinaboine, 
where  they  received  all  necessary  attention. 

Hillson  and  Palmer  expected  unpleasant 
consequences  from  their  violent  experience, 
and  they  were  not  fully  themselves  nntil  a 
couple  of  days  had  passed.  Nothing  serious, 
however,  resulted.  They  were  young,  strong, 
rugged,  and  with  good  habits,  while  they  had 
already  served  an  ai^prenticeship  in  campaign- 
ing in  the  Northwest,  and  were,  therefore, 
capable  of  withstanding  privations  and  suffer- 
ings before  which  many  others  would  have 
succumbed. 

The  lieutenants  did  not  forget  the  resolution 
formed  on  their  way  home,  after  the  meeting 


AT  FORT  ASSINABOINE.  161 

with  the  Wild  Cat  and  his  gang.  These 
people  were  defying  the  military  authorities 
by  their  acts,  and  were  liable  to  arrest  for  leav- 
ing the  reservation.  The  only  obstacle  to 
bringing  them  to  book  was  the  difficulty  of 
laying  hands  upon  them.  It  was  known  that 
the  Wild  Cat  often  apj)eared  among  the  farm- 
ing Indians,  and  once  or  twice  had  the  impu- 
dence to  present  himself  at  the  fort  with  his 
claim  for  an  annuity. 

Colonel  Draper  could  have  placed  him  under 
arrest  at  that  time,  but  he  desired  irrefragable 
proofs  of  the  serious  crimes  of  which  he  stood 
accused.  Though  most  of  the  other  Blackfeet 
were  obedient  to  the  laws  and  showed  com- 
mendable interest  in  their  grazing  and  farming 
interests,  they  could  not  rid  themselves  of  their 
kinship  toward  those  of  their  race  who  chose 
to  feel  otherwise.  The  best  of  these  men  would 
screen  a  dusky  horse  thief  or  murderer  who 
applied  to  them  when  hard  pressed  by  the 
Indian  police  or  the  mounted  white  guards. 

While  this  was  due,  in  many  instances,  to 

fear  of  the  dusky  desperadoes,   it  was  more 

frequently  inspired  by  sympathy  for  the  red 
11 


162  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

men,  whose  tastes  were  those  that  had  been 
born  in  them,  and  from  which  these  Indians 
themselves  were  not  entirely  free. 

Colonel  Draper,  therefore,  awaited  the  time 
when  something  could  be  fixed  so  clearly  npon 
the  Wild  Cat  that,  when  arrested  and  brought 
to  trial,  his  conviction  must  follow.  In  the 
meantime  he  advised  his  friends  to  keep  clear 
of  that  portion  of  the  Bear  Paw  Mountains 
which  he  claimed  as  his  stamping  ground ; 
but,  all  the  same,  when  Lieutenants  Hillson 
and  Palmer  respectfully  asked  permission  to 
make  another  venture  up  the  mountain  trail, 
he  cheerfully  granted  their  request,  and 
wished  them  God-speed  and  a  safe  return. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  MOUNTAi:Nr  TRAIL  AGAIIT. 

AND  so  it  came  about  that  preoisely  one 
-  week  after  the  incidents  we  have  de- 
scribed, Lieutenants  Russell  Hillson  and 
Albert  Palmer  were  riding  up  the  mountain 
trail  from  which  they  had  diverged  before 
reaching  the  highest  point,  and  suffered  the 
misfortunes  described  because  of  that  depart- 
ure from  the  straight  path. 

The  day  was  clear,  crisp,  cool,  and  sunshiny. 
They  had  spent  so  much  time  on  the  way  that 
the  sun  was  well  down  in  the  sky  when  they 
reached  the  spot  where  the  narrow  fissure 
opened  on  their  left,  apparently  into  and 
through  the  solid  wall  of  the  mountain. 

Hillson,  it  need  not  be  said,  was  mounted 
on  his  favorite  mare,  Kitty,  while  Palmer  had 
secured  a  horse  fully  the  equal  of  that  which 
was  drowned  by  the  flood.     Each  carried  an 

163 


164  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

excellent  magazine  rifle,  and  tliey  were,  there- 
fore, as  fully  equipped  as  they  could  be  for 
whatever  adventures  were  in  store  for  them. 

The  former  trip  had  proven  rather  expen- 
sive, especially  to  Palmer,  who  was  obliged  to 
pay  for  the  horse  as  well  as  his  lost  gun ;  but 
that  was  one  of  the  ''casualties  of  war,"  as  he 
expressed  it,  and  it  did  not  lessen  his  anticipa- 
tions of  the  glorious  enjoyment  before  him. 

Upon  reaching  the  fissure  they  halted  a 
minute  or  two  to  view  it. 

''Some  of  that  tremendous  mass  of  water 
must  have  found  its  way  through  there,"  re- 
marked Palmer,  who  was  riding  in  advance  ; 
"though  there  are  few  signs  of  its  having 
done  so." 

"  You  mustn'  t  forget  that  a  week  has  passed 
since  then,  and  little  evidence  would  be  left ; 
but  you  will  recall  that,  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance after  entering  the  opening,  our  course 
was  descending.  It  may  be,  therefore,  that 
we  are  considerably  higher  than  the  top  of  the 
torrent  which  gave  us  such  a  hustling." 

The  matter,  however,  was  of  no  moment, 
and  they  pushed  on,  the  elder  still  at  the  head, 


THE  MOUNTAIN  TRAIL  AGAIN.  165 

and  on  the  watch  for  the  unsafe  places  in  the 
mountain  trail  which  were  liable  to  let  them 
down  into  the  vast  ravine  on  their  right,  whose 
slope  was  like  the  roof  of  a  house. 

"Look!" 

It  was  Palmer  who  uttered  the  exclamation, 
as  he  reined  up,  without  turning  his  head. 

The  sight  was  a  striking  one.  Two  hundred 
yards  away  the  jutting  path  wound  around 
a  mass  of  solid  rock,  disappearing  from  view 
immediately  beyond.  Thus  the  ledge  was  the 
most  prominent  part  of  the  vast,  sloping 
mountain  wall,  and  must  have  been  visible 
from  a  great  distance. 

Standing  at  the  uppermost  portion  of  the 
trail  was  a  noble  buck  with  huge  spreading 
antlers.  He  had  approached  from  the  other 
direction  at  a  leisurely  gait,  and  was  turning 
the  bend  when  he  observed  the  horsemen 
ascending  the  path  toward  him. 

The  animal  stopped  short,  threw  up  his 
head,  with  its  magnificent  spread  of  horns,  so 
as  to  bring  his  fine  figure  in  relief  against  the 
brilliant  sky  behind  him.  The  situation  of 
himself  and  hunters  brought  him  almost  in 


166  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

direct  line  with  the  orb  of  day,  which,  it  may 
be  said,  was  partly  eclipsed  by  the  gigantic 
form  of  the  animal  as  it  was  interposed  before 
its  face.  Indeed,  it  dazzled  Palmer  and  Hill- 
son  Avhen  they  looked  at  him  because  of  the 
overpowering  glare. 

It  took  the  buck  but  a  few  seconds  to  scent 
danger.  Whether  he  had  ever  heard  the  crack 
of  a  hostile  rifle  or  not,  he  knew  those  two 
horsemen  could  not  be  friends.  Rearing  on 
his  hind  feet,  he  whirled  with  astonishing 
grace  and  ease,  his  head,  neck,  and  forefeet 
seemingly  suspended  over  the  abyss  below  as 
he  turned  to  face  the  other  way. 

It  was  a  splendid  chance  for  a  shot,  and 
Palmer's  Winchester  was  brought  instantly  to 
his  shoulder,  but  the  light  partly  blinded 
him  and  he  knew  his  aim  was  poor ;  never- 
theless, seeing  the  game  about  to  vanish, 
he  let  fly. 

To  the  surprise  of  both  of  the  youths  the 
buck  made  a  wild  leap  fully  ten  feet  to  the 
right  of  the  ledge,  over  which  he  went  with 
a  crash  among  the  trees,  undergrowth,  and 
bowlders,  disappearing  from  sight  as  if  he  were 


THE  MOUNTAIN  TRAIL  AGAIN.  167 

a  rock  cast  into  the  sea,  above  which  the  rush- 
ing waters  instantly  closed. 

''  Well,  if  there  ever  was  a  chance  shot  tliat 
was  one  !  "  exclaimed  Palmer.  **  I  believe  my 
eyes  were  shut  when  I  fired,  and  I  had  no 
expectation  of  hitting  him." 

*'And  you  didn't  hit  him." 

Palmer  turned  his  head,  as  though  uncertain 
of  the  meaning  of  the  remark. 

*'Do  you  intend  to  claim  him  ?  " 

*'  No,  though  I  have  as  much  right  as  you  ; 
but  at  the  moment  you  pulled  trigger,  or  the 
fraction  of  a  second  before,  I  caught  the  report 
of  another  gun,  and  it  was  the  bullet  of  that 
which  slew  the  buck,  sending  him  over  to  the 
ravine,  where  none  besides  the  beasts  of  prey 
will  ever  find  his  body." 

' '  I  did  not  notice  the  report,  but  you  may 
be  right ;  for,  as  I  just  said,  if  I  slew  him  it 
was  by  accident.  It  follows  that  other  hunters 
are  ahead  of  us." 

''  Doubtless  there  are  plenty  of  them  in  the 
mountains,  as  we  learned  last  week,  and  it  may 
be  we  are  in  for  another  scrimmage  with  the 
Wild  Cat  and  his  gang." 


168      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAYINE. 

"  And  we  are  fortunate  enougli  to  have  otlier 
weapons  tliis  time  than  Colt's  revolvers." 

*'But  the  fellow  fights  like  a  wild  animal, 
from  cover,  instead  of  standing  up  to  his  work 
like  a  man." 

*' We  learned  that  long  ago,"  said  Palmer, 
shrugging  his  shoulders  as  he  resumed  his 
ascent  of  the  mountain  path,  Hillson  follow- 
ing, with  only  a  few  paces  between  them. 
There  was  enough  change  in  their  course  to 
enable  them  to  look  at  the  ledge  without  en- 
countering the  blinding  glare  of  the  sun.  They 
kept  glancing  thither,  on  the  watch  for  the 
hunter  that  had  so  cleverly  taken  the  game 
from  their  grasp.  This  portion  of  the  path 
appeared  to  be  firm,  but  they  did  not  permit 
their  interest  in  this  stranger  to  lessen  their 
caution. 

The  shot  from  the  other  side  of  the  project- 
ing ledge  could  not  fail  to  cause  the  youths 
considerable  uneasiness.  As  has  been  re- 
marked, the  Indians  ought  to  be  peaceable 
wherever  encountered  on  the  reservation.  In 
fact,  as  we  have  shown,  many  of  the  Crows 
and  Blackfeet  helped  in   the  arrest   of  the 


THE  MOUNTAIN  TRAIL  AGAIN.  169 

horse  thieves  of  their  own  race,  who  now  and 
then  stole  across  the  border  line  from  the 
British  possessions  and  raided  upon  the  farmer 
Indians  that  are  making  such  creditable  ad- 
vances in  civilization  ;  but  there  are  always 
a  number  of  red  men  who  are  untrustworthy 
and  vicious,  as  is  the  case  with  their  paleface 
brethren.  Some  of  these  are  dissatisfied  with 
their  treaty  stipulations  and  become  "Dog 
Indians,"  or  vagrants,  w^hose  hands  are  against 
everyone,  whenever  there  is  any  temptation 
presented  to   do  evil. 

''Lieutenant,"  called  Hillson,  just  before 
reaching  the  turn  in  the  mountain  trail,  "don't 
hurry  ;  there's  no  saying  who  may  be  lurking 
beyond  waiting  for  the  very  chance  you  will 
give  them  if  you  ride  straight  forward." 

Palmer  checked  his  steed,  and  partly  turning 
in  his  saddle,  looked  in  the  face  of  his  friend, 
while  they  held  a  brief  conversation. 

"  I  have  been  thinking  about  that,  but  you 
will  recall  that  the  best  plan,  as  both  of  us 
proved  last  week,  is  to  bluff  the  Wild  Cat, 
and  not  let  him  think  that  we  hold  him  in  any 
fear.     When  you  met  him  alone  you  refused 


170  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

to  give  liim  half  the  path.  Had  you  turned 
aside  and  allowed  him  to  have  it  all,  he  would 
have  shot  you  from  your  mare." 

'' Possibly,  though  we  cannot  be  certain  of 
that." 

"  I  believe  it  was  he  who  fired  from  the  brush 
and  then  ran  like  a  coward  when  I  made  for 
him  with  only  my  revolver,  while  he  had  a 
rifle." 

''Even  if  you  are  right  about  that,"  said 
the  younger  officer  significantly,  ''the  fact 
remains  that  he  fired  the  shot  before  he  ran, 
and  he  may  do  so  at  this  time." 

"The  fact  also  remains,"  added  Palmer, 
"that  he  didn't  hurt  anybody  by  his  marks- 
manship." 

"  Which  is  no  proof  that  he  may  not  do  so 
next  time." 

It  was  apparent  that  the  elder  was  eager  to 
meet  the  vagrant  with  whom  he  had  had  such 
stirring  dealings  the  week  before.  Hillson  was 
hardly  less  desirous  of  a  brush  with  him,  but 
he  appreciated  the  need  of  caution  in  every 
movement. 

"I    will    be    careful,"    finally    remarked 


THE  MOUNTAIN  TRAIL  AGAIN.  171 

Palmer,  who  straightway  proceeded  to  violate 
the  pledge  by  riding  toward  the  turn  of  the 
mountain  trail,  as  though  not  the  shadow  of 
danger  impended. 

Hillson  urged  him  to  dismount  and  take  a 
cautious  peep  before  trusting  himself  in  full 
sight,  but  he  thought  that  was  showing  a 
timidity  which  would  react  upon  them.  He 
kept  his  horse,  however,  at  the  slowest  possible 
walk,  and  leaned  forward  over  his  neck  that 
he  might  be  as  quick  as  he  in  detecting  what- 
ever lay  beyond. 

"  I  suspect  our  friend  has  concluded " 

Lieutenant  Palmer  had  uttered  these  words 
when  Hillson  saw  him  fling  himself  over  the 
side  of  his  horse,  as  if  making  a  plunge  after 
the  stricken  buck.  The  crack  of  a  rifle  ring- 
ing among  the  gorges  at  the  same  moment  left 
no  doubt  of  the  cause  of  the  desperate  attempt 
of  the  young  officer  to  save  himself. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  PKISONER. 

FOE,  an  instant  Lieutenant  Hillson  believed 
his  companion  had  been  struck  by  the 
unexpected  shot  from  beyond.  His  chivah'ous 
nature  led  him  to  bound  forward  with  the 
alarmed  question : 

*' Are  you  hurt,  Al?" 

^'No;  I'm  all  right,  but  don't  let  him  get 
away ;  it  was  one  of  those  Blackfeet  that  fired 
at  me." 

Hillson  turned  like  a  flash  and  glanced 
along  the  trail,  which  descended  as  rapidly 
beyond  the  curve  as  it  did  in  the  opposite 
direction.  That  wdiich  he  saw  angered  him 
beyond  expression,  for  nothing  could  have 
been  more  treacherous  than  the  attempt 
against  the  life  of  his  friend. 

Two  Blackfoot  warriors  were  skurrying 
down  the  jDath  as  fast  as  their  sinewy  legs 

172 


THE  PRISONER.  173 

could  carry  them.  Their  long  coarse  hair 
streamed  over  their  backs,  and  each  was  partly 
envelojped  in  an  untidy  blanket  wrapped  about 
his  shoulders,  and  from  beneath  which  his 
moccasons  twinkled  as  he  made  all  haste  to 
get  out  of  danger. 

The  faces  which  they  often  turned  to  glance 
affrightedly  behind  them  showed  they  were 
painted  after  the  fashion  so  popular  with  the 
American  race,  and  the  young  lieutenant  was 
certain  he  recognized  one  of  them. 

"Now,  gentlemen,"  he  muttered,  bringing 
his  rifle  to  his  shoulder,  "it  is  my  turn." 

The  distance  was  considerable  and  increas- 
ing every  moment,  but  Hillson  was  an  excel- 
lent marksman,  and  was  confident  of  bringing 
down  his  man.  There  was  no  means  of  know- 
ing who  fired  the  cowardly  shot,  but  both  were 
equally  guilty,  and  he  selected  the  one  in  front 
on  the  theory  that,  after  discharging  his  piece, 
he  would  naturally  be  the  first  to  run.  The 
distance  between  the  fugitives  was  sufficient 
to  permit  him  to  tire  over  the  head  of  the 
rear  one. 

"It  was  the  Wild  Cat,"  said  Palmer,  hast- 


174  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

ily  righting  himself  in  the  saddle  ;  ''he  is  the 
one  leading,  and  I  hope  you  will  make  a  better 
shot  than  he  did." 

It  was  the  intention  of  Palmer  to  take  a 
hand  himself,  but  at  the  moment  Hillson's  eye 
was  ranging  along  his  Winchester,  and  he  was 
sure  the  bead  was  true,  behold !  both  Indians 
vanished  as  though  they  had  never  been. 

"Well,  if  that  doesn't  beat  the  beaters!" 
exclaimed  Hillson,  lowering  his  weapon  and 
staring  with  open  mouth  at  the  point  where 
the  warriors  were  visible  but  a  moment  before  ; 
'*  what's  become  of  them?  Are  we  in  a  land 
of  enchantment  ? " 

"Not  a  bit  of  it,"  replied  Palmer;  "they 
are  hiding  behind  the  trail  ;  give  me  room." 

And  what  did  the  audacious  young  officer 
do  but,  like  another  "Old  Put,"  spur  his 
horse  down  the  trail  on  a  dead  run,  straight  at 
the  point  on  which  he  kept  his  eyes  fixed, 
with  the  determination  of  punishing  the  mis- 
creant that  had  attempted  his  life,  and  whom 
he  knew  to  be  one  of  the  worst  Indians  in  the 
Northwest ! 

Hillson  was  but  a  second  or  two  behind  him. 


THE  PRISONER.  175 

He  was  not  the  one  to  hesitate  when  a  comrade 
was  in  peril,  and,  swinging  himself  into  the 
saddle,  he  spurred  his  mare  to  her  best.  Both 
animals  had  been  in  battle  before,  and  they 
scented  it  from  afar. 

No  heed  was  now  paid  to  the  trail  that  had 
not  been  pressed  by  a  hoof  for  a  long  time. 
Bits  of  rock  and  stone,  displaced  by  the  flying 
hoofs,  rattled  down  the  ravine  at  their  side, 
and  more  than  once  the  sure-footed  animals 
seemed  to  be  going  over,  but  the  reins  lay 
loose  on  their  necks,  and,  left  to  themselves, 
they  did  better  than  if  their  riders  had  tried 
to  guide  them. 

Palmer  believed  that  the  Indians,  seeing  the 
levelled  rifles,  had  dropped  on  their  faces  and 
rolled  among  the  dense  undergrowth,  where 
they  could  not  be  seen  a  dozen  yards  away. 
It  was  frightfully  perilous  thus  to  charge  upon 
them,  since  they  had  only  to  lie  still  and  pick 
off  the  youths  as  they  came  within  range. 

But  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  very  impet- 
uosity of  the  rush  averted  this  danger,  for  no 
shot  was  fired  during  the  few  seconds  thus 
occupied,   although  the  officers  expected  it. 


176      THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

The  speed  of  tlieir  liorses  was  so  great  that 
they  went  several  paces  beyond  the  spot  before 
they  could  be  checked. 

The  youths  were  on  the  ground  in  a  twin- 
kling, and  leaving  the  steeds  to  themselves, 
they  leaped  into  the  undergrowth. 

'^  Hallo  !  "  called  Palmer  ;  "  here  is  another 
trail ;  we  are  close  upon  them  ! " 

The  pursuer  forgot  that  he  was  no  match  for 
an  American  Indian  on  foot,  especially  among 
the  vines,  trees,  and  rocks,  where  he  is  as  much 
at  home  as  is  the  chamois  among  the  Alpine 
heights. 

Hillson  was  as  eager  as  his  companion,  for 
one  of  the  miscreants  had  fired  at  his  friend, 
and  the  two  Indians  were  among  the  very 
worst  of  their  race.  Palmer,  with  his  Win- 
chester firmly  grasped  in  his  right  hand,  sped 
down  the  path,  Avliich,  like  the  main  trail, 
rapidly  descended,  as  though  the  one  whom 
he  was  pursuing  was  only  a  few  paces  in 
advance. 

Hillson  was  not  quite  so  forgetful  as  his 
friend.  It  occurred  to  him  that  if  the  Black- 
feet  had  darted  from  the  main  trail  at  this 


THE  PRISONER.  177 

point  they  were  likely  still  to  be  near  it. 
Instead,  therefore,  of  rushing  after  his  com- 
panion, he  paused  for  a  moment  and  glanced 
searchingly  about  him. 

Nothing  met  his  eye,  and  he  was  on  the 
point  of  following  the  other,  when  something 
moved  in  his  field  of  vision.  It  resembled  a 
short,  thick  stick,  which  appeared  to  fly  up  a 
few  inches  from  behind  a  large  rock.  He 
caught  only  a  glimpse  of  the  object,  but  it  was 
enough  to  reveal  that,  instead  of  what  it 
seemed,  it  was  the  arm  of  an  Indian,  exposed 
for  the  instant,  as  if  he  were  striving  desper- 
ately to  accomplish  something  before  he  could 
be  prevented. 

Suspecting  its  meaning,  Hillson,  with  a 
couple  of  bounds,  reached  the  other  side  of  the 
rock,  where  he  came  upon  the  vagrant  Black- 
foot  known  far  and  wide  as  the  Wild  Cat, 
who  was  making  a  fierce  effort  to  reload  his 
Sharpens  or  single-shot  rifle,  before  the  youth 
should  disappear  in  the  direction  taken  by  his 
friend. 

The  warrior  was  in  a  kneeling  posture,  and 
in  the  act  of  fixing  a  cartridge  at  the  breech, 

12 


178  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

when  the  young  officer  descended  npon  him. 
It  was  an  act  of  amazing  carelessness  that  led 
the  Wild  Cat  to  unmask  himself  in  the  manner 
described,  and  was  explainable  only  on  the 
ground  of  his  furious  haste,  which  caused  him 
to  forget  himself  for  the  instant. 

Even  with  Hillson  within  arm's  length,  and 
holding  him  at  his  mercy,  he  persevered  in  the 
attempt  to  reload  his  piece,  which  would  have 
been  re-charged  before,  but  for  the  haste  which 
caused  him  to  drop  the  cartridge. 

"  You  scoundrel !  "  exclaimed  the  lieutenant, 
drawing  his  revolver  ;  "  drop  that  gun,  or  I'll 
riddle  you  ! " 

The  Wild  Cat  continued  his  effort  in  a  vague 
way,  but  the  cartridge  dropped  a  second  time 
from  his  fingers,  and,  instead  of  picking  it  up, 
he  turned  bis  painted  visage  toward  the  youth 
and  said  : 

^^Meno  shoot — me  friend  of  white  man  !  " 

Under  other  circumstances  the  phenomenal 
effrontery  of  this  proceeding  would  have 
brought  a  smile  to  the  face  of  the  officer,  who 
could  not  treat  the  wretch  as  he  deserved, 
since  he  was  helpless,  but  had  he  continued  his 


THE  PRISONER.  179 

attempt  to  reload  his  gun,  Hillson  would  have 
executed  his  threat.  Now,  however,  he  was 
surprised  to  discover  that  the  terrible  warrior 
was  too  badly  hurt  to  aid  himself.  Immedi- 
ately after  uttering  his  words,  he  attempted  to 
rise,  but  reeled  backward,  and  had  he  not 
grasped  a  sapling,  he  would  have  sunk  to  the 
ground. 

It  was  not  strange,  perhaps,  that  on  the 
discovery  of  his  condition  the  emotions  of 
Hillson  underwent  a  revulsion,  although  he 
was  filled  with  consuming  wrath  a  moment 
before,  and  could  hardly  restrain  himself  from 
taking  instant  vengeance  on  the  one  that  had 
come  within  a  hair  of  slaying  his  best  friend. 

Something  akin  to  pity  now  stirred  the  lieu- 
tenant at  sight  of  this  grim  warrior  in  his 
pitiful  i3light.  No  wound  could  be  seen,  and 
Hillson,  after  studying  him  a  moment  or  two, 
concluded  that  in  his  haste  to  escape  the 
levelled  Winchester  he  had  injured  himself 
upon  the  rocks.  If  such  were  the  fact  he 
would  speedily  recover. 

Knowing  the  venomous  nature  of  the  Black- 
feet   the    lieutenant  was    not  free  from  the 


180  THE  PATH   IN  THE  RAVINE. 

suspicion  tliat,  after  all.  tlie  Wild  Cat  was 
feigning  a  weakness  with  the  purpose  of 
throwing  him  off  his  guard,  but  if  so  he  failed 
in  his  design,  for  the  officer  did  not  remove 
his  grasp  from  his  revolver  during  the  brief 
interval  he  was  studying  him. 

The  result  was  the  conviction  that  he  had 
been  injured  in  some  unaccountable  manner. 
Indeed,  but  for  the  extraordinarily  tough  char- 
acter of  his  race,  it  is  likely  he  would  have 
swooned  when  striving,  with  the  help  of  the 
sapling,  to  stand  erect.  The  youth  believed 
he  turned  pale,  but  the  paint  on  his  counte- 
nance prevented  any  certainty  on  that  point. 

Even  in  his  pity  Hillson  did  not  forget  his 
caution,  for  he  had  seen  a  supposed  dead  war- 
rior, when  stretched  upon  the  ground,  make  a 
lightning-like  blow  with  his  knife  at  the  sur- 
geon bending  over  him,  as  a  rattlesnake  will 
strike  when  wounded  unto  death. 

"I'll  take  your  gun,  if  you  please,"  said 
the  youth,  setting  his  own  against  a  tree, 
reaching  his  hand  forward  and  grasping  the 
rifle  of  the  Blackfoot.  The  latter  made  no 
attempt  to  retain  it,  but  loosening  his  fingers, 


THE  PRISONER.  181 

allowed  it   to    pass    into  the    hands   of   bis 
master. 

The  only  other  weapon  visible  was  the  bunt- 
ing knife,  shoved  behind  the  girdle  at  his 
waist.  Hillson  hesitated,  but,  knowing  his 
task  would  not  be  finished  until  he  secured 
that,  he  deftly  extracted  it,  without  any  pro- 
test on  the  part  of  the  owner. 

It  was  singular,  perhaps,  bu^  at  the  instant 
the  young  officer's  hand  closed  about  the 
buckhorn  handle,  the  thought  flashed  upon 
him  that  the  weapon  had  been  used  against 
many  an  innocent  member  of  his  own  race. 
With  a  shudder,  as  if  it  were  a  serpent,  he 
flung  it  twenty  feet  away  through  the  wood. 


CHAPTER  XXL 


THE  SIGNAL. 


THUS  Lieutenant  Hillson  had  actually 
made  prisoner  of  the  notorious  Indian 
known  as  the  Wild  Cat.  This  rogue  took  liis 
place  some  years  before  on  the  reservation 
with  the  rest  of  his  tribe,  expressing  his  inten- 
tion of  adopting  the  calling  of  a  farmer  for  the 
rest  of  his  life  and  becoming  that  rare  per- 
sonage known  as  a  "good  Indian,"  respect- 
ing whom  some  military  authorities  claim  the 
last  one  perished  long  ago. 

The  Wild  Cat  lived  up  to  his  profession  for 
a  few  weeks,  and  then  in  a  quarrel,  brought 
about  by  himself,  slew  one  of  his  people.  He 
was  arrested  by  the  Indian  police,  but  broke 
away  and  took  to  the  mountains.  Occasionally 
he  ventured  upon  the  settled  portion  of  the 
reservation,  and  was  engaged  in  other  brawls, 


183 


THE  SIGNAL.  183 

becoming  known  as  one  of  the  worst  tempered 
and  violent  of  bis  race. 

We  have  shown  that,  Avhether  on  his  own 
hunting  grounds  or  the  reservation,  this  out- 
hiw  could  always  count  on  the  active  sympathy 
of  his  people.  The  most  peaceful  Blackfeet, 
who  abhorred  his  crimes,  used  every  effort  to 
baffle  the  officers  of  justice  in  their  attempts 
to  place  him  beyond  the  power  of  doing  further 
harm.  Patient  and  well-disposed  as  were  the 
authorities,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  they 
would  have  put  on  mourning  had  they  learned 
of  his  death  at  the  hands  of  known  or  un- 
known parties.  Had  Hillson  and  Palmer  re- 
turned to  the  fort  with  word  that  in  an  affray 
with  the  Wild  Cat,  they  had  found  it  neces- 
sary to  despatch  him,  the  chief  executive 
Avould  never  have  been  petitioned  to  X)ardon 
them. 

But  enough  has  been  said  to  show  the  char- 
acter of  the  prisoner  that  had  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  Lieutenant  Hillson,  who,  realizing 
the  importance  of  the  capture,  asked  himself 
the  question:  "Now  that  I  have  caught 
him,  what  shall  I  do  with  him?" 


184  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

The  plan  of  taking  him  twenty  miles  and 
more  to  the  fort  could  not  be  contemplated 
with  pleasure,  since  he  was  too  weak  to  walk, 
and  if  his  captor  waited  until  he  recovered 
he  was  sure  to  take  advantage  of  the  many- 
chances  offered  to  escape  before  leaving 
the  mountains.  Hillson  naturally  disliked  to 
share  his  horse  with  him,  for  such  a  compan- 
ionship was  rex)ellant  in  every  sense. 

While  these  thoughts  were  passing  through 
the  brain  of  the  youth,  the  prisoner  himself 
was  an  interesting  study.  Hillson  had  formed 
a  theory  about  his  hurt  which  afterward  proved 
to  be  correct.  The  Blackfoot,  in  his  desperate 
hurry  to  avoid  the  bullet  that  was  on  the  point 
of  being  fired  at  him,  flung  himself  with  such 
violence  to  the  earth  that  he  struck  a  bowlder 
with  sufficient  force  to  knock  him  almost 
senseless.  It  was  a  singular  accident  to  befall 
such  a  veteran  mischief-maker,  but  when  he 
rolled  among  the  undergrowth  and  behind  the 
rock,  it  was  with  an  instinctive  rather  than  a 
reasoning  impulse,  and  his  senses  left  him 
altogether  at  the  moment  of  finding  the  refuge. 

Chivalry  would  have  required  his  companion 


THE  SIGNAL.  185 

to  remain  with  him  and  give  what  help  he 
could  in  his  extremity  ;  but  chivalry  is  not  so 
common  among  the  American  Indians  as  some 
people  supxDose.  His  associate  cast  a  single 
glance  at  him,  and  then  concluded  that  his 
best  course  was  to  look  after  his  own  safety. 
Instead  of  taking  refuge  near  and  firing  at 
the  horseman  the  instant  he  came  within  fair 
range,  he  lied  with  all  speed  down  the  faintly 
marked  path,  whither  the  impetuous  Palmer 
followed  with  headlong  haste. 

The  shock  received  by  the  Blackfoot  was  of 
that  nature  that  he  quickly  recovered,  and, 
brief  as  was  the  interval  occupied  by  the 
young  officers  in  their  charge,  he  rallied  suffi- 
ciently to  comprehend  his  peril,  and,  striving 
hard  to  reload  his  gun,  was  detected,  as  we 
have  shown,  in  the  act. 

The  outlay  of  strength  overcame  him,  and 
the  red  man  was  nearer  swooning  outright  than 
ever  before.  Only  by  the  supreme  exercise 
of  his  strong  will  did  he  succeed  in  keeping 
his  feet,  with  the  help  of  the  sapling  at  his 
side. 

Hillson  was  sufficiently  skilled  in  reading  the 


186  THE  PATH   IN  THE   RAVIKE. 

symptoms  which  he  sought  to  hide  to  observe 
that  the  redoubtable  warrior  was  rapidly  be- 
coming himself  again.  That  being  evident,  he 
was  sure  to  be  equally  quick  in  regaining  his 
natural  viciousness.  The  youth  had  possession 
of  his  gun,  and,  slipping  his  revolver  in  place, 
he  held  one  rifle  in  either  hand,  the  knife  hav- 
ing been  eliminated  from  the  problem. 

"Wild  Cat,"  said  he,  ''you  are  at  my 
mercy,  but  the  white  man  does  not  make  war 
like  the  dog  of  a  Blackfoot ;  I  will  not  hurt 
you  if  you  do  as  I  tell  you." 

''Wild  Cat  can't  walk,"  was  the  reply,  as 
the  warrior  still  clung  to  the  sapling  and 
looked  at  the  lieutenant  with  an  expression 
that  would  have  touched  his  heart  had  he  not 
suspected  its  sincerity. 

At  this  juncture,  Hillson,  to  his  delight, 
caught  a  familiar  signal.  It  was  a  clear,  sharp 
whistle,  such  as  he  knew  was  made  by  his 
brother  officer,  who  meant  it  as  a  call  for  him 
to  join  him  at  once. 

"  I  wonder  whether  he,  too,  has  an  elephant 
on  his  hands,"  was  the  thought  of  his  friend, 
who  noticed  that  the  summons  came  from  a 


THE  SIGNAL.  187 

point  considerably  removed  ;  ^4f  he  has,  we 
must  manage  to  pool  our  issues." 

Turning  to  his  prisoner,  who  must  have 
noticed  the  signal,  he  added  : 

"  Wild  Cat,  walk  ahead  of  me  in  this  path  ; 
you  are  strong  enough  to  do  that,  and  you 
can't  deceive  me.  I  will  follow  you,  and  if  you 
do  as  you  are  told,  you  won't  be  harmed,  but 
if  you  attempt  to  dodge  among  the  trees  or  call 
to  your  friends,  I  will  fire  upon  you  at  once." 

The  warrior  looked  keenly  at  him,  as  if 
debating  some  plan  for  misleading  him  ;  but 
the  handsome  face  of  the  officer  could  be  stern 
when  necessary,  and,  as  the  best  and  only 
course  left  to  the  Wild  Cat,  he  began  moving 
along  the  trail,  but  did  so  with  great  slowness, 
as  if  suffering  pain. 

Possibly  such  was  the  fact,  but  the  occasion 
was  one  for  harshness  ;  and  stepping  from  the 
path,  so  as  to  place  the  warrior  in  front,  he 
allowed  him  to  hear  the  click  of  the  hammer 
on  his  rifle  as  he  raised  it. 

*'It  all  depends  on  you,^^  said  he  ;  **walk 
along  the  path  and  don't  look  around,  but  if 
you  don't- 


j) 


188  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

The  break  in  the  sentence  was  as  expressive 
as  any  words  could  have  been,  and  the  Wild 
Cat  asked  no  further  explanations. 

It  was  an  extraordinary  sight,  this  veteran 
Blackfoot  warrior,  wearing  the  scars  of  many 
a  fearful  hand-to-hand  encounter,  plodding 
sullenly,  but  submissively,  in  front  of  the 
youth,  who  kept  only  a  few  paces  to  the  rear, 
with  his  senses  on  the  alert,  and  half  convinced 
that  he  would  have  to  carry  out  his  threat 
of  summary  punishment  before  advancing  a 
hundred  feet. 

Hillson  would  have  signalled  to  Palmer  to 
join  him  but  for  the  suspicion  that  he  was  in- 
volved in  some  difficulty  with  his  own  particu- 
lar Blackfoot,  which  rendered  it  out  of  his 
power  to  respond.  Despite  the  lieutenant's 
misgivings,  however,  the  Wild  Cat  maintained 
his  deliberate  progress  for  nearly  fifty  yards 
without  any  change  of  gait  or  apparent  pur- 
pose of  rebelling  against  his  strange  captivity. 
But,  before  long,  Hillson  became  aware  of  a 
disquieting  fact. 

A  faint  call,  seemingly  made  by  some  bird, 
sounded  through  the    wood,    but   it  was  so 


THE  SIGNAL.  189 

nearly  inaudible  tliat  had  lie  not  been  listening 
intently,  lie  would  not  have  noticed  it.  Even 
as  it  was,  it  is  doubtful  whether  it  would  have 
disturbed  him,  had  he  not  observed  a  slight 
movement  of  the  Wild  Cat's  head.  It  was 
just  the  least  possible  flitting  to  one  side, 
which  gave  a  brief  glimpse  of  the  profile. 
There  was  no  change  in  his  pace,  nor  any  evi- 
dence that  he  had  noticed  the  soft,  tremulous 
call,  other  than  the  one  described,  and  even 
that  seemed  to  be  due  to  a  momentary  forget- 
f  Illness  that  could  not  occur  again. 

"It  is  a  signal  from  the  other  Blackfoot," 
was  the  conclusion  of  Hillson  ;  "he  must  have 
eluded  Palmer,  and  is  stealing  back  to  help 
this  one.  Well,  that  makes  two  of  them,  and 
I  have  a  couple  of  guns,  even  if  one  is  un- 
loaded, but  I  am  afraid  they  will  prove  more 
than  I  can  handle Ah  ! " 

To  his  surprise  he  caught  precisely  the  same 
signal  again  ;  but,  instead  of  coming  from  the 
point  where  first  heard,  it  was  to  the  right, 
and,  more  significant  still,  much  closer  than 
before. 

The  Wild  Cat  moved  like  a  feeble  old  man. 


190  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

not  turning  his  head  in  either  direction.  He 
could  not  have  failed  to  hear  the  second 
sound,  but  nothing  in  his  demeanor  indicated 
the  fact. 

*'This  contract  is   growing  faster  than  is 
agreeable,"  thought  the  lieutenant,    "but  I 

can' t  back  out  now There  it  goes  again ! ' ' 

he  added,  as  the  bird-like  call  sounded  so  near 
that  he  knew  the  Indian  who  emitted  it  would 
be  in  sight  the  next  moment. 


E 


CHAPTEK  XXII. 

THE   CABIN. 

lEUTENANT   HILLSON"   was  in  a  most 


peculiar  situation.  The  dusky  rogue 
known  as  the  Wild  Cat  was  walking  slowly, 
as  if  in  pain,  a  few  paces  in  front,  while  some- 
where near  at  hand  were  hovering  one  or  more 
warriors  awaiting  the  chance  to  strike  a  blow 
for  the  leader. 

The  second  signal  showed  that  the  stranger 
was  but  a  short  distance  to  the  right,  and  the 
officer  was  certain  he  would  reveal  himself  the 
next  minute.  His  advent  upon  the  scene 
promised  to  turn  the  tables  completely,  for  it 
will  be  perceived  that  every  advantage  was  on 
his  side.  It  was  another  example  of  the  hunter 
who,  while  hunting  the  tiger,  finds  the  tiger 
hunting  him. 

Hillson  had  his  loaded  Winchester  in  his 
right    hand,    and  the  Blackfoot's    unloaded 


191 


192      THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAYINE. 

weapon  in  liis  left.  Carrying  a  revolver  also, 
it  will  be  conceded  that  lie  was  well  supplied 
with  the  means  of  defence,  but  the  gun  of  the 
Wild  Cat  was  such  an  impediment  that,  could 
lie  have  been  sure  that  the  second  warrior 
lurking  near  would  not  see  him,  he  would  have 
flung  the  weapon  away. 

The  Indian  acted  for  a  moment  as  though  he 
had  not  heard  the  second  call  of  his  ally,  which 
so  disturbed  the  lieutenant,  and  the  latter  was 
left  the  duty  of  watching  not  only  him  but  the 
other,  who  was  liable  at  any  moment  to  send  a 
stealthy  shot  from  cover. 

It  was  this  close  scrutiny  of  the  Wild  Cat 
that  enabled  Hillson  to  observe  that  he  was 
walking  slower  than  before.  His  step,  too, 
was  uncertain,  as  if  overtaken  once  more  by 
the  weakness  that  came  so  near  mastering  him. 

*'  That  is  all  j^retence,"  was  the  rightful  con- 
clusion of  his  captor  ;  "he  is  about  to  attempt 
some  trick.  None  of  that !  "  he  called  to  him  ; 
*^  I  know  what  you  are  driving  at." 

The  Blackfoot  stopped,  and,  turning  half- 
way round,  deliberately  stared  at  the  youth, 
as  if  studying  the  expression  of  his  counte- 


THE  CABIN.  193 

nance.  Then,  to  the  amazement  of  the  latter, 
he  coolly  rej)lied  to  the  whistle  that  had  so 
alarmed  Hillson  a  minute  before. 

It  was  a  daring  proceeding  on  the  part  of  the 
Wild  Cat,  and  looked  as  if  he  meant  openly  to 
defy  his  captor,  who  was  angered  almost  to 
the  extent  of  shooting  him,  thereby  not  only 
ridding  the  country  of  a  pest,  but  reducing  the 
number  of  his  enemies  demanding  immediate 
attention  to  unity.  Instead  of  doing  so,  how- 
ever, he  resorted  to  a  shrewder  artifice  that 
would  have  done  credit  to  a  veteran  frontiers- 
man. 

*'  Wild  Cat,"  said  he,  '^  signal  again  to  your 
friend,  and  tell  him  that  if  he  makes  the  first 
move  against  me,  I  will  shoot  you !  He  may 
bring  me  down,  but  not  before  I  can  send  a 
bullet  through  you,  and  Fll  do  it  I'*^ 

The  officer  uttered  these  words  in  a  loud 
voice,  intending  they  should  reach  the  ear  of 
the  second  Indian,  for  whom  they  were  spe- 
cially meant.  Perhaps  the  latter  did  not 
understand  the  English  language,  and  it  was 
well  to  employ  an  interpreter. 

The  lieutenant  hardly  expected  to  be  obeyed 

13 


194  THE  PATH  IN   THE  EAVINE. 

as  promptly  as  he  was,  but  the  Wild  Cat 
instantly  emitted  a  tremulous  whistle,  so  dif- 
ferent from  his  previous  one  that  it  was  evi- 
dent it  conveyed  another  meaning  altogether. 
Whether  this  was  of  the  precise  character 
Hillson  had  in  mind,  and  whether  such  a  mes- 
sage could  be  transmitted  by  that  means,  may 
well  be  doubted,  but  it  must  have  been  quite 
easy  to  warn  his  associate  against  any  attempt 
to  harm  the  white  man. 

This  was  bringing  speculation  down  to  a  fine 
point,  and  Hillson  had  no  time  nor  disposition 
to  follow  the  train  of  thought  suggested  by 
the  action  of  the  Blackfoot.  He  was  in  con- 
stant fear  of  the  appearance  of  the  one  that 
had  first  given  the  signal,  with  a  complication 
that  must  increase  his  own  danger  to  an  alarm- 
ing degree. 

It  was  awkward  to  carry  two  rifles,  one  of 
which  was  pointed  at  the  target  in  front,  but 
he  managed  to  do  so,  determined  that  there 
should  be  no  mistake  as  to  his  earnestness. 
The  Wild  Cat  walked  with  the  same  sullen 
deliberation  as  before,  while  the  youth  devoted 
his  energies  to  the  task  of  keeping  him  under 


THE  CABIN.  195 

his  eye,  and  maintaining   a  lookout  for  the 
other. 

Skilful  and  daring  as  was  Lieutenant  Hill- 
son,  it  was  beyond  his  power  to  hold  his  ad- 
vantage for  more  than  a  few  minutes  longer, 
without  receiving  aid  from  some  quarter.  His 
threat  probably  frightened  the  Wild  Cat  into 
uttering  a  warning  signal  to  his  friend,  but  the 
latter  would  have  been  quick  to  see  how  easy  it 
was  for  him  to  fire  a  shot  so  instantly  fatal 
that  the  leader  would  be  in  no  danger  at  all. 

It  was  at  this  critical  juncture  that  Hillson, 
looking  at  his  prisoner,  observed  something 
moving  just  beyond  him.  Before  he  was  quite 
sure  of  its  meaning,  the  warrior  stopped,  threw 
up  both  arms  and  called  : 

"  Huh  !  huh  !  no  shoot ! '' 

There  was  good  cause  for  the  cry,  for  the 
figure  in  front  of  him  was  Lieutenant  Palmer, 
who,  catching  sight  of  the  savage,  instantly 
brought  his  rifle  to  his  shoulder  with  the  in- 
tention of  firing. 

But  the  path  just  there  was  perfectly  straight, 
and  when  he  pointed  his  gun  at  the  Blackfoot 
he  descried  his  friend,  so  exactly  in    range 


196       THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

that  a  shot  at  one  was  likely  to  endanger  the 
other. 

"Don't  fire,"  called  Hillson  in  turn,  "he  is 
a  prisoner  of  war." 

Palmer  lowered  his  weapon  and  stared  en- 
quiringly at  the  Indian,  who  still  hesitated  to 
advance. 

"That's  the  head  scoundrel,"  remarked  the 
first  lieutenant ;  ''  it  was  he  who  gave  me  that 
snap  shot,  but  what  do  you  mean  to  do  with 
him?" 

"  I  want  your  help  to  decide." 

"There's  a  cabin  right  behind  me,  which  we 
can  use  for  a  prison  until  we  make  arrange- 
ments to  dispose  of  him." 

This  was  interesting  news  to  Hillson,  who 
ordered  the  Wild  Cat  to  resume  his  advance. 
The  officer  followed  only  a  few  paces,  when 
he  observed  a  small  natural  clearing  in 
which  stood  a  heavily  built  cabin,  one  story  in 
height  and  perhaps  twenty  feet  square.  The 
single  door  affording  ingress  and  egress  was 
open,  and  a  large,  well-favored  man  stood  just 
outside  calmly  contemplating  the  curious  pro- 
ceedings. 


THE  CABIN.  197 

The  Wild  Cat  stopped,  and  since  tlie  indi- 
vidual was  a  stranger  to  Hillson,  lie  hesitated 
whether  to  repeat  his  order.  Suspecting  his 
embarrassment  the  man  called  out : 

"Send  him  right  along;  the  door  is  open 

for  him." 

The  Blackfoot  must  have  realized  at  this 
moment  the  great  error  he  made  in  warning 
his  ally  to  remain  in  the  background,  for,  had 
he  been  on  hand  to  use  the  opportunity  pre- 
sented in  the  slight  confusion  that  lasted  for  a 
second  or  two,  the  prisoner  could  have  dodged 
among  the  trees  and  been  off  like  a  shot. 

But  it  was  too  late  now,  and,  hiding  the 
exasperation  and  chagrin  that  must  have 
gnawed  at  his  heart,  he  strode  through  the 
open  door  with  a  certain  dignity,  and  entered 
the  cabin. 

"Now  let  us  do  the  same,"  said  the  first 
lieutenant,  "for  there  are  more  of  them  in  the 
neighborhood." 

He  knew  nothing  of  the  warrior  who,  after 
approaching  within  striking  distance,  had 
withdrawn  at  the  command  of  his  master,  or 
he  might  have  shown  greater  hurry.     Hillson 


198      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

believed  lie  would  be  heard  from,  and  lie 
nervously  followed  his  friend  within  the  struct- 
ure, the  host  stepping  quickly  after  them  and 
instantly  closing  and  securing  the  door. 

The  astonishment  of  the  visitors  was  in- 
creased by  a  glance  at  their  surroundings. 
The  cabin,  as  we  have  stated,  was  about  twenty 
feet  square  and  a  single  story  in  height,  but 
one  half  of  the  ax)artment  was  covered  by  a 
broad  shelf  or  planking,  between  which  and 
the  eaves  was  a  foot's  space  and  with  three 
times  that  extent  in  the  middle.  The  ends  of 
a  number  of  buffalo,  bear,  and  beaver  robes 
showed  that  this  i^ortion  was  devoted  to  sleep- 
ing purposes,  it  being  reached  by  several  cross 
pieces  nailed  against  one  side  of  the  cabin, 
almost  directly  beneath. 

The  floor  was  made  of  well-fitted  logs, 
roughly  dressed,  and  worn  smooth  by  much 
tramping  of  feet.  There  was  a  small  stand  or 
table,  several  stools,  a  short,  low  bench,  and  a 
fireplace  with  a  lot  of  wood  piled  near  it,  as  if 
in  readiness  for  use,  though  there  was  none 
burning  on  the  hearth.  The  firex)lace  was  of 
the  most  primitive  pattern,  built  of  stone  and 


THE   CABIN.  199 

set  even  with  tlie  wall,  the  prime  object  sought 
evidently  being  strength  and  security. 

The  door  was  massive,  and  when  closed  and 
secured  was  almost  as  strong  as  any  part  of  the 
structure.  On  the  side  opposite  were  two  nar- 
row, window-like  openings  for  the  admission  of 
light.  They  lacked  panes,  but  could  be  closed 
by  pieces  of  planking  when  danger  threatened, 
their  straitness  being  such  that  a  child  could 
not  have  been  forced  through  either  of  them. 

The  occupant  of  this  cabin  was  Hadley 
Rainsford,  a  man  of  powerful  physique,  a 
little  x)ast  middle  life,  with  grizzled  beard  and 
hair,  bright  blue  eyes,  strong  features,  and  pre- 
possessing manner.  He  was  attired  like  a 
professional  sportsman,  and  encountered  any- 
where would  have  attracted  favorable  atten- 
tion. His  rifle  was  of  the  latest  pattern,  and 
it  was  evident  that,  although  following  this 
singular  hermit  life,  he  was  an  individual  of 
intelligence  and  culture. 

*'  Well,  here  we  are  !  "  he  said,  in  his  cheery 
way,  after  glancing  about  the  room,  ^'and  if 
you  will  keep  out  of  range  of  those  windows, 
we  may  dismiss  all  thoughts  of  troublesome 


200      THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

neiglibors  for  tlie  present.  I  think  wlien  sup- 
per-time comes  we  can  scare  np  something 
digestible.  I  don' t  know,"  he  added,  glancing 
quizzically  from  one  to  the  other,  "  whether  it 
is  a  safe  proceeding,  lieutenants,  for  me  to 
receive  a  couple  of  United  States  officers  into 
my  house  when  I  am  an  intruder  myself." 

'*We  are  here  unofficially,"  said  Palmer, 
with  a  laugh,  "  and  having  accepted  your  hos- 
pitality, we  cannot  violate  it." 

*'The  crime  is  not  a  heinous  one,  anyway, 
and  I  would  be  glad  to  have  you  make  me  a 
visit,  if  we  only  knew  what  to  do  with  this 
precious  fellow." 

He  looked  at  the  Wild  Cat  as  he  spoke. 
The  white  men  had  seated  themselves,  but  the 
warrior  stood  on  the  side  of  the  room  furthest 
from  the  door.  His  arms  were  folded,  a  scowl 
upon  his  forbidding  features,  and  his  black, 
serpent-like  eyes  seemed  to  be  staring  at  the 
solid  logs  before  him,  as  if  seeking  to  pierce 
them  and  peer  among  the  trees  beyond.  He 
did  not  speak  nor  seem  to  notice  the  words  of 
his  captors,  though  it  is  safe  to  believe  that, 
none  of  their  words  were  lost  upon  him. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

A  YOUNG   HOSTESS. 

NATUHE  lias  given  the  red  man  a  repel- 
lent countenance,  with  Ms  large  nose, 
higli  cheek-bones,  and  retreating  chin.  His 
face  was  made  doubly  repulsive  by  fantastic 
daubs  of  crimson,  black,  and  white  paint 
spread  over  forehead,  nose,  cheek,  and  chin. 
His  long  black  hair,  instead  of  being  gathered 
in  the  defiant  scalp-lock,  dangled  about  his 
shoulders,  the  coarse  strands  showing  that 
they,  too,  had  received  their  share  of  paint,  of 
which  the  American  race  is  so  fond. 

^'What  did  you  do  with  your  Indian?" 
asked  Hillson,  turning  with  a  smile  toward 

his  friend. 

"  I  didn't  get  a  chance  to  do  anything  with 
him  ;  I  found  he  could  beat  me  running  with- 
out half  trying,  and  there  wasn't  much  hope 
of  tiring  him^out,  as  he  had  the  better  wind. 


202  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

The  longer  that  sort  of  race  continued  the  bet- 
ter it  was  for  him.  When  I  caught  sight  of 
this  house  I  concluded  to  let  up  on  my  fugi- 
tive and  make  a  few  investigations  on  my  own 
account.  Mr.  Eainsford  had  heard  the  guns 
and  was  in  his  door  wondering  what  it  meant, 
when  I  loomed  up  in  his  field  of  vision." 

''Not  precisely  in  the  dignified  style  of 
which  the  West  Pointer  is  so  fond,"  said  the 
gentleman,  in  his  pleasant  way,  "for  at  the 
moment  I  saw  you,  your  foot  caught  in  an  ob- 
struction, and  you  had  hard  work  to  save  your- 
self going  forward  on  your  hands  and  knees." 

"  So  I  did ;  and  when  you  told  me  the  In- 
dian I  was  after  hadn't  j)assed  in  sight  of  the 
cabin,  I  saw  I  was  throwing  away  time  and 
labor.  Then  I  signalled  for  the  lieutenant, 
and,  thinking  he  might  need  my  services,  set 
out  to  see  what  I  could  do  for  him." 

''Well,"  said  Mr.  Eainsford,  "you  have 
captured  the  worst  Indian  in  Montana,  and 
one  who  I  do  not  believe  ever  felt  a  spark  of 
gratitude  or  honor." 

The  youths  looked  wonderingly  at  the  gen- 
tleman who   spoke  with  such  emphasis.     A 


A  YOUNG  HOSTESS.  203 

glance  at  the  Blackfoot  sliowed  that  he  had 
shifted  his  i^osition  so  as  to  permit  him  to 
lean  one  shoulder  against  the  side  of  the  struct- 
ure, his  weight  resting  mainly  on  one  leg, 
while  the  toe  of  the  other  foot,  swung  around 
in  front  of  the  rigid  limb,  was  supported  on 
the  floor  of  the  cabin. 

*'  You  speak  pointedly,"  said  Hillson. 

^' And  I  have  the  right  to  do  so  ;  ten  years 
ago  Morris  Hitchman  and  I  spent  a  part  of  the 
summer  building  this  cabin.  The  reservation 
was  not  fairly  established,  though  we  knew  it 
was  coming.  The  Wild  Cat  claimed  to  be  a 
good  Indian,  and  we  anticii)ated  no  trouble 
from  him,  though  the  accounts  we  received 
from  hunters  and  trappers  gave  us  some  un- 
easiness. We  had  hard  work  to  get  this 
structure  finished,  and  it  was  hardly  done 
when  he  and  his  gang  came  down  on  us  like 
a  thunderbolt,  and  we  stood  a  siege  of  three 
days  and  nights. 

"  We  stayed  here  all  that  winter,  and  ex- 
changed a  good  many  shots  with  him  and  his 
party.  Do  you  see  that  scar  ?  "  abruptly  asked 
the  gentleman,  removing  his  cap  and  display- 


204  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

ing  a  cicatrice  on  liis  forehead,  plainly  observed 
by  both  his  visitors. 

^''  He  gave  it  to  me,"  added  Mr.  Bainsford, 
with  a  jerk  of  his  thumb  toward  the  Wild  Cat, 
''and  about  that  time  I  winged  him.  Hitch- 
man  and  I  secured  a  good  many  peltries,  and 
were  preparing  to  start  homeward  with  them 
when  down  came  the  old  fellow  again  with  his 
party.  They  cut  off  our  retreat  to  the  house, 
and  we  kejDt  up  a  running  fight  for  two  hours 
along  the  mountain  trail.  We  had  to  abandon 
our  whole  winter's  catch,  and  more  than  once 
I  believed,  in  the  language  of  the  hunters  of 
the  olden  time,  that  our  last  sickness  had  over- 
taken us.  So  it  proved  indeed  with  Hitchman, 
for  at  the  very  point  where  Lieutenant  Palmer 
tells  me  he  came  so  near  being  shot  off  his 
horse,  my  friend  went  down,  killed  so  quickly 
that  he  hadn't  time  to  bid  me  good-by.  I  was 
wounded  myself,  but,  as  night  was  at  hand, 
managed  to  hide  among  the  wood  and  under- 
growth until  I  got  a  chance  to  creep  out.  I 
wandered  about  for  several  days,  more  dead 
than  alive,  when  I  came  upon  a  party  of  trap- 
pers, who  proved  good  Samaritans  to  me." 


A  YOUNG  HOSTESS.  205 

"I  should  tliink  that  would  have  wearied 
you  of  the  Bear  Paw  Mountains,"  remarked 
Palmer. 

''  So  it  would,  but  for  what  happened  after- 
ward. I  married  one  of  the  best  women  that 
ever  lived.  A  year  later  Heaven  sent  us  sweet 
little  Bessie.  It  seemed  as  if  my  earthly  hap- 
piness was  too  great  to  last.  But  the  mother 
died,  and  I  was  crushed  with  sorrow.  The 
only  hope,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  of  partially 
forgetting  it  was  by  plunging  into  these  moun- 
tains, where  nothing  could  remind  me  of  my 
affliction.  I  see  now  that  it  was  an  unwise 
thing  to  do,  but  I  came  here  a  couple  of  years 
ago.  and  have  not  been  out  of  the  country 
since.  There  is  such  an  abundance  of  game 
that  it  is  easy  to  support  life,  and  from  the 
few  hunters  that  know  of  my  presence  here, 
I  can  get  my  ammunition  and  other  necessaries 
in  exchange  for  the  peltries  which  I  gather 
during  cold  weather." 

"Did  you  bring  your  little  daughter  with 
you  ?"  asked  Lieutenant  Hillson. 

"  She  was  six  years  old  at  the  time,  and  has 
been  with  me  ever  since." 


206  THE  PATH  IN   THE  EAVINE. 


u 


But  we  have  seen  nothing  of  her." 

^' Hallo,  Bessie!  where  are  you?"  called 
Mr.  Rainsford. 

A  rustling  was  heard  among  the  robes  over- 
head, and  to  the  unbounded  amazement  of  the 
visitors  a  little  girl  about  eight  years  old  came 
down  the  stei)s,  dropping  lightly  upon  the  floor. 
Smiling  and  blushing  she  ran  forward,  sprang 
upon  her  father's  knee,  received  an  embrace 
and  kiss,  and  then,  looking  at  the  young 
oflacers,  said  : 

*^  I've  been  watching  you  upstairs  ever  since 
you  come  in." 

''Now  isn't  that  odd?"  replied  Hillson. 
''I  have  a  little  sister  at  home  named  Bessie, 
and  she  is  about  your  age,  and  I  think  she 
looks  almost  as  sweet  as  you.  Anyway,  I 
want  to  tell  her  all  about  little  Bessie  Rains- 
ford  that  I  visited  away  up  in  the  Bear  Paw 
Mountains.  I  hope,  too,  I  shall  be  able  to  tell 
her  that  I  held  her  on  my  knee,  and  that  she 
gave  me  a  kiss  just  as  she  did  her  father." 

He  extended  his  arms,  and  Bessie,  with  a 
little  natural  timidity,  walked  to  him  and  was 
lifted  upon  his  knee,  and  at  once  became  a 


A  YOUNG  HOSTESS.  207 

warm  friend  of  the  handsome  young  officer. 
He  knew  how  to  entertain  a  child  like  her,  but 
Palmer  complained  that  he  was  slighted,  insist- 
ing that,  tliongh  he  hadn't  a  sister  Bessie,  he 
deserved  one,  and  he  was  always  fond  of  good 
little  girls. 

It  was  a  strange  experience  of  the  two  in 
coming  upon  this  dainty  bit  of  humanity  in 
one  of  the  wildest  regions  of  our  country. 
Bessie  was  unusually  bright,  for  it  was  evident 
that  her  doting  father  gave  much  time  to  her 
care  and  instruction.  She  was  educated  be- 
yond her  years,  but  retained  the  infantile  ways 
so-winning  in  one  of  her  age. 

Her  dress  was  neat,  and  little  bits  of  bright 
ribbon  here  and  there  added  to  the  pleasing 
appearance  of  her  costume.  Her  luxuriant 
golden  hair,  hanging  below  her  shoulders, 
was  gathered  with  a  blue  ribbon  at  the  back, 
while  her  rosy  complexion,  clear  eyes,  and 
elasticity  of  frame  betokened  the  highest  pos- 
sible degree  of  health. 

But  charmed  as  were  the  visitors  with  her 
sweet  face  and  ways,  they  were  disturbed  to 
know  she  was  buried  in  the  wilderness,   and 


208  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAYINE. 

not  only  deprived  of  association  with  those  of 
lier  own  sex  and  age,  but  saw  so  few  of  the 
necessities  of  civilization.  Her  parent  had  no 
right,  even  in  the  depth  of  his  affliction,  to 
doom  her  to  such  a  life. 

*'I  know  what  is  in  your  thoughts,"  said 
Mr.  Eainsford ;  "I  have  done  wrong,  and 
shall  make  amends  ;  my  arrangements  were 
completed  to-day  to  leave  this  place  forever, 
and  unless  prevented,  we  shall  start  to-morrow 
morning  by  sun-up." 

*'I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that,"  said 
Hillson,  uttering  the  sentiments  of  his  friend, 
*'and  I  hope  nothing  will  occur  to  prevent 
your  departure." 

It  may  seem  singular  that  this  conversation 
should  take  x)lace  on  the  heels  of  the  stirring 
incidents  recorded,  and  when  there  was  reason 
to  believe  more  than  one  hostile  Indian  was 
hovering  on  the  outside,  eager  to  give  their 
leader  all  the  help  possible.  But  there  were 
breaks  in  the  sentences,  and  Mr.  Rainsford 
was  ever  on  the  alert,  as  were  his  comi^anions. 
The  gentleman,  however,  gave  more  attention 
to  the  prisoner  than  did  they,  and  it  was  this 


A  YOUNG  HOSTESS.  209 

fact  wliich  caused  liim  to  make  a  sign  to  tliern 
to  refrain  from  looking  at  the  Wikl  Cat,  who, 
there  could  be  no  doubt,  was  np  to  some 
miscliief. 

He  had  turned  his  head,  so  that,  instead  of 
gazing  at  the  blank  wall,  he  was  able  to  glance 
sideways  through  one  of  the  narrow  windows 
on  his  right,  and  Mr.  Rainsford  was  not  mis- 
taken in  believing  the  glittering  eyes  were 
turned  in  that  direction. 

Furthermore,  this  steady  scrutiny  was  not 
aimless  on  the  part  of  the  prisoner.  He  was 
holding  stealthy  communication  with  parties 
on  the  outside,  though  it  was  done  with  a 
subtlety  and  skill  that  might  have  deceived 
the  eye  of  suspicion  itself. 

Beyond  question  between  these  red  men, 
separated  by  the  wall  of  the  cabin,  a  plan  for 
the  rescue  of  the  Wild  Cat  was  rapidly  crys- 
tallizing, and  an  explosion  was  nearer  at  hand 
than  even  the  vigilant  Mr.  Rainsford  suspected. 


14 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE   STKENGTH   OF  WEAKNESS. 

THE  better  to  carry  out  the  request  of  Mr. 
Rainsford,  the  two  officers  continued 
their  conversation  with  him,  he  answering  and 
speaking  as  though  feeling  no  interest  in  the 
Blackfoot,  who  was  leaning  against  the  side  of 
the  structure,  and  holding  secret  communica- 
tion with  parties  outside.  The  warrior  acted 
his  part  with  rare  skill,  as  did  the  single  indi- 
vidual or  more  without,  since  not  the  slightest 
sound  indicated  what  was  going  on. 

Now,  while  no  one  of  the  three  cared 
enough  for  the  feelings  of  the  dusky  prisoner 
to  restrain  the  expression  of  his  opinion  of 
him  in  language  which  could  not  be  misunder- 
stood, it  was  desirable  that  some  things  should 
be  kept  from  him. 

"Habla  v.  esx)anol?"  (Do  you  speak  Span- 

210 


THE   STRENGTH   OF   WEAKNESS.  211 

ish  ?)  asked  Mr.  Rainsford,  turning  toward  his 
visitors. 

"Si,  lo  a]3rendimos  a  West  Point"  (Yes, 
we  learned  that  at  West  Point),  was  the 
prompt  reply  of  Hillson,  and  from  thenceforth 
for  a  time  the  conversation  continued  in  Span- 
ish, which  it  was  safe  to  conclude  was  an 
unknown  tongue  to  all  ]^orthern  Indians. 

''  Had  your  call  been  deferred  a  single  day," 
said  Mr.  Rainsford,  ''you  would  not  have 
found  me  and  Bessie  here." 

"Then  we  are  glad  it  took  place  when  it 
did,"  replied  Palmer,  ''though  it  might  have 
been  better  for  you  had  you  been  absent,-  for 
we  know  enough  of  the  Wild  Cat  to  see  you 
are  in  danger  as  long  as  you  are  in  this  i)lace." 

"  Yes,"  was  the  quiet  reply,  "he  is  incorrig- 
ible, and  I  have  been  thinking  since  you  made 
him  captive  what  course  should  be  taken  with 
him.  He  deserves  death  half  a  dozen  times 
over,  but  that  will  not  warrant  us  in  inflicting 
it,  and  I  do  not  see  how  you  can  take  him  back 
to  the  post  with  you." 

"I  brought  him  here  alone,"  said  Hillson, 
"  and  it  would  seem  that  Palmer  and  I  ought 


212  THE  PATH  IN  THE  PwAVINE. 

to  be  able  to  drive  liim  in  front  of  us  over  the 
trail  to  the  fort,  or,  since  the  journey  is  con- 
siderable, we  could  take  him  on  one  of  our 
horses." 

^'  That  would  be  feasible  if  the  other  Black- 
feet  did  not  interfere  ;  but  you  know  how 
ready  the  friendly  Indians  are  to  shield  the 
most  guilty  of  their  race.  You  would  be  sure 
to  meet  trouble  by  adopting  either  course." 

"What  did  you  mean  by  referring  to  his 
'gang' ? " 

' '  He  has  gathered  a  half  dozen  vagrants  about 
him  as  treacherous  as  himself  ;  they  will  seize 
any  opportunity  to  pick  off  a  hunter  in  the 
mountains,  as  no  doubt  they  have  done  many 
a  time.  I  was  hopeful,  on  my  last  return, 
that  I  would  find  him  farming,  but,  as  usual, 
he  welcomed  me  with  a  rifle  shot." 

"  It  is  unaccountable  to  me,"  said  Palmer, 
'*  that  you  expose  your  child  to  such  great  peril, 
and  that,  having  done  so,  you  have  escaped  so 
long." 

"  I  confess  that  I  ought  to  have  left  the  hour 
I  learned  our  danger,  but  I  was  hopeful  that 
the  Wild  Cat  and  his  men  would  be  won  over 


THE  STRENGTH   OF  WEAKNESS.  213 

at  least  to  neutrality  by  fair  treatment.  I 
once  did  a  good  turn  for  a  Crow  warrior,  and 
he  lias  been  my  friend  ever  since.  I  tried  it 
with  this  rogue,  and  the  mistake  was  well-nigh 
fatal.  It  is  only  recently  that  I  reached  the 
decision  that  he  is  so  bad  that  all  efforts  are 
thrown  away  on  him.  When  the  conviction 
came  I  resolved  to  leave  this  spot  forever." 

''What  are  your  means  for  doing  so  ? " 

"I  brought  an  excellent  horse,  and  he  is 
turned  loose  in  a  valley  less  than  a  fourth  of  a 
mile  away.  I  take  a  look  at  him  every  day  or 
two,  and  occasionally  enjoy  a  little  spin  on  his 
back.  If  I  can  bring  him  to  the  mountain 
trail,  knowing  none  of  the  Wild  Cat's  gang  is 
in  front  of  me,  I  shall  have  no  fear  of  harm  to 
me  and  mine,  for  he  is  as  fleet-footed  as  the 
wind." 

"We  know  that  the  Indian's  weakness, 
like  that  of  many  white  men,  is  horse-flesh," 
observed  Palmer,  "and  I  wonder  that  your 
animal  was  not  stolen  long  ago." 

"There  has  been  risk  from  the  first,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  but  you  must  not  suppose 
that  the  Wild  Cat  and  his  fellows  lie  awake 


214  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

nights  planning  schemes  for  my  harm.  They 
have  other  mischief  on  hand,  and  have  let  me 
alone  for  higher  game." 

"  Why  not  propose  that  we  will  let  him  go 
if  he  and  his  men  will  molest  us  no  further  ? " 
asked  Hillson. 

"  He  would  accept  it  at  once,  and  then  seize 
the  first  chance  to  break  his  pledge  ;  he  can't 
be  trusted  to  the  least  extent." 

^'Doubtless  you  are  right;  but  why  not 
hold  him  as  a  hostage  ?  " 

"That  is  the  only  scheme  that  promises 
anything,  but  I  see  no  way  of  carrying  it  out. 
There  must  come  a  point  when  the  honor  of 
the  Indian  will  have  to  be  trusted,  and  at  that 
moment  the  break  will  take  place." 

*' Suppose  we  make  no  conditions,  but 
release  him  offhand,  will  he  and  the  rest  lie  in 
wait  for  us,  or  will  they  besiege  the  cabin  in 
the  hope  of  securing  us  all  ? " 

*' My  belief  is  that  they  will  slay  us  all,  if 
the  way  opens  for  doing  so.  You  put  an 
unpardonable  indignity  on  him  by  making 
him  a  x)risoner  when  he  was  tem^Dorarily  dis- 
abled, and  he  suspects  I  mean  to  leave  with 


THE  STRENGTH   OF   WEAKNESS.  215 

my  little  girl,  so  he  would  bend  all  his  efforts 
to  capture  the  cabin.  If  he  succeeds  none  will 
be  left  to  accuse  him,  and  the  colonel  at  the 
fort  can  never  learn  who  is  responsible  for  the 
taking  off  of  his  two  fine  young  lieutenants." 

"Then,  Hillson  and  I  should  watch  for  the 
chance  to  steal  away  and  make  haste  to  the 
fort  for  the  helj)  that  the  colonel  will  be  only 
too  eager  to  send." 

"Do  that,  and  the  solution  is  found; 
but " 

Some  minutes  before  this  little  Bessie  Eains- 
ford,  who  had  consented  to  perch  herself  again 
on  the  knee  of  Lieutenant  Hillson,  noticed 
that  her  friends  were  using  words  that  were 
unintelligible  to  her.  She  looked  enquiringly 
from  face  to  face,  and  hearing  nothing  to 
interest  her,  fixed  her  gaze  on  the  prisoner, 
who  was  leaning  against  the  wall,  near  one  of 
the  narrow  windows,  seemingly  paying  no 
attention   to  anything. 

She  had  seen  so  many  of  his  people  that  she 
felt  little  fear  of  them.  She  was  like  the 
fawn,  which  unhesitatingly  trots  up  to  the 
hunter  with  no  thought  that  it  is  approaching 


216  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

its  deadliest  enemy.  Sliding  off  the  knee  of 
the  officer,  she  picked  up  one  of  the  stools  and 
walked  to  where  the  Wild  Cat  stood,  setting 
it  down  so  near  him  that  the  edge  touched  the 
fringe  of  his  leggings.  Then,  placing  her  hand 
on  one  of  his  forearms,  she  said  : 

*'  You  must  be  tired  ;  sit  down." 

The  Blackfoot  turned  his  head  like  a  flash. 
His  attention  was  directed  so  intently  else- 
where that  his  first  thought  was  that  he  had 
been  detected.  It  was  a  striking  proof  of  the 
subtlety  of  the  American  Indian,  that  whoever 
was  on  the  outside  became  aware  on  the  instant 
of  the  interruption.  Had  any  of  the  white 
men  within  peeped  through  the  opening  at 
that  moment,  he  would  have  discovered  nothing 
to  explain  the  telegraphy  that  was  going  on  an 
instant  before. 

The  Wild  Cat  glanced  down  at  the  little  girl, 
whose  hand  rested  on  his  arm,  the  two  being 
still  folded,  and  shook  his  head. 

"Wild  Cat  no  sit  down." 

This  was  a  decisive  declension  for  a  warrior, 
but  it  did  not  satisfy  the  young  lady.  She 
insinuated  her  chubby  fingers  between  the  outer 


THE  STRENGTH   OF  WEAKNESS.  217 

forearm  and  the  wrist  of  the  other  with  such 
deftness  that,  ere  he  was  aware,  she  had 
broken  the  lock,  as  it  may  be  called,  and  the 
limbs  dropped  to  his  sides.  He  was  about  to 
refold  them,  when  she  closed  her  fingers  about 
his  wrist  and  said  : 

"  I  want  you  to  sit  down,  'cause,  if  you  aint 
tired,  you  will  be  very  soon." 

The  appeal  was  accompanied  by  such  a  smart 
backward  pull  of  the  Indian's  arm  that  he 
was  forced  to  make  an  undignified  movement 
to  save  himself  from  sitting  down  on  the  stool. 
It  must  have  angered  him,  and  more  than 
likely  he  would  have  struck  the  innocent 
cause,  but  for  the  presence  of  her  friends,  who 
shifted  their  seats  in  order  to  watch  the  curi- 
ous proceedings. 

Still  holding  his  wrist,  Bessie  added  : 

*'  You  must  sit  down." 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THKOUGH  THE  LINES. 

PERHAPS  the  Wild  Cat  saw  that  the 
easiest  course  was  to  comply  with  the 
orders  of  the  little  empress,  for,  with  an  odd 
grin  on  his  painted  features,  he  seated  himself 
on  the  stool  and  looked  at  the  child  that  had 
compelled  him  to  obey  her. 

The  others  smiled,  but  even  the  father  was 
not  prepared  for  what  followed.  The  Wild  Cat 
allowed  his  arms  to  hang  at  his  side  for  a 
second  or  two,  as  if  in  doubt  what  to  do  with 
them.  Before  he  could  decide,  Bessie  climbed 
upon  his  knee,  and,  with  the  confiding  faith  of 
childhood,  gazed  up  in  the  repellent  counte- 
nance and  straight  into  the  serpent-like  eyes 
without  a  tremor  of  misgiving. 
^'  Have  you  a  little  girl  like  me  ?  " 
The  American  Indian  justly  bears  the  repu- 

218 


«        >  •«« 


THROUGH  THE  LINES.  219 

tation  of  a  stoic  so  far  as  all  outward  expres- 
sion of  liis  emotions  goes  ;  but  it  is  safe  to  say- 
that  if  ever  one  of  them  was  comx)letely  floored 
it  was  this  Blackfoot  when  the  golden-haired 
Bessie,  sitting  on  his  knee,  asked  her  question. 
He  looked  down  in  her  blue  eyes,  but  his 
dusky  lips  remained  closed.  Far  be  it  from  us 
to  speculate  upon  the  feelings  that  stirred 
the  depths  of  that  heart,  but  he  was  a  human 
being  like  ourselves.  Though  the  river  may 
be  frozen  deep,  yet  far  below  the  solid  shield 
the  crystal  water  flows,  and  the  ice  itself 
must  yield  in  time  to  the  rays  of  sunlight 
that  fall  upon  it. 

"  Have  you  a  little  girl  like  me  ? "  repeated 
Bessie,  seeing  that  he  hesitated,  as  though  he 
did  not  understand  her  question. 

''  Wild  Cat  hab  young  warrior — hab  girl, 
too,"  came  the  reply  in  tones  which  Lieu- 
tenant Hillson  will  always  insist  showed  a 
perceptible  tremor. 

"  So  you've  got  a  little  girl,"  repeated  Bes- 
sie, her  face  lighting  up.  *'  I  guess  her  name 
aint  like  mine  ;  my  name  is  Bessie  ;  what  is 
your  girl's  name  ? " 


220       THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

^'Sliebe  Aff-to-wa." 

Bessie's  laughter  rang  out  so  merrily  that 
her  friends  smiled. 

^'Aff-to-wa!  what  a  funny  name!  Why 
don't  you  call  her  Bessie,  or  Susie,  or  Dolly, 
or  some  other  name  that  I  used  to  know  in  St. 
Paul.     Have  you  ever  been  in  St.  Paul  ?  " 

The  warrior  shook  his  head. 

"It's  a  nice  place,  and  we  are  going  back 
there,  for  I  don't  like  to  stay  here.  Papa 
promised  to  take  me  back  to-morrow,  and  we 
mean  to  start  real  early." 

Kainsford  glanced  at  the  officers  and 
remarked  in  Spanish : 

"  The  secret  is  out  now  without  mistake, 
and  the  Wild  Cat  knows  it  all." 

"We've  got  a  horse  that  Pm  going  to  ride 
on  with  papa  ;  he's  a  good  way  off,  where  the 
bad  Indians  can't  find  him;  it's  down  that 
way"  (pointing  with  her  hand),  "but  I  know 
you  won't  tell  the  bad  Indians,  for  papa  is 
afraid  they  will  take  Saladin  away." 

"We'll  let  the  young  tell-tale  alone,"  said 
her  parent  with  a  smile,  "and  she  will  give 
her  whole  family  history.' 


j> 


THROUGH  THE  LINES.  221 

But  cliildhood  is  impulsive,  and  Bessie 
switched  off  in  characteristic  fashion  : 

'^  Won't  you  bring  Aff-to-wa  to  see  me 
before  we  go  away?" 

What  the  Wild  Cat's  answer  would  have 
been  can  only  be  conjectured,  for  the  opportu- 
nity was  denied  him.  The  words  were  yet 
upon  the  childish  lips  when  the  reports  of  sev- 
eral rifles  rang  out  in  the  stillness,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Hillson,  who  had  shifted  his  seat  more 
than  his  companion,  felt  the  wind  of  one  of  the 
bullets,  which  whizzed  in  front  of  his  eyes  and 
was  buried  in  the  wall  opposite. 

It  was  a  startling  interruption,  and  for  a 
few  seconds  each  white  man  believed  one  of 
his  friends  had  been  killed.  They  leaped  from 
their  seats,  while  the  terrified  parent  rushed 
to  his  child,  who  was  on  her  feet,  bewildered 
like  the  others,  not  knowing  what  it  all  meant. 

It  was  a  cunning  scheme  of  the  marauders 
outside,  and  accomplished  its  end  marvellously 
well,  for  it  was  meant  to  give  the  Wild  Cat  a 
chance  of  escax)ing  from  his  prison. 

Thinking  only  of  Bessie,  the  father  caught 
her  in  his  arms,  and  stepping  hastily  back,  so 


222  THE  PATH   IN  THE   PwAVINE. 

as  to  be  out  of  range  of  tlie  windows,  lie 
asked : 

"  My  dear  child,  are  you  liurt  ? " 

^'Wliy,  no,  papa;  but  what  made  him  set 
me  down  so  quick?" 

Expecting  another  volley,  the  young  officers 
imitated  the  action  of  their  host,  not  pausing 
to  catch  u]y  their  rifles,  which  were  leaning 
against  the  wall  near  the  fireplace.  As  they 
did  so  the  Blackfoot  darted  across  the  room 
with  arrowy  swiftness.  He  seemed  hardly  a 
second  at  the  door,  but  during  the  brief  inter- 
val occupied  in  unfastening  it,  he  managed  by 
incredible  deftness  to  secure  his  rifle,  when  he 
vanished  through  the  opening  as  if  shot  from 
a  gun. 

** Shall  I  fire?"  shouted  Hillson,  dashing 
after  him,  revolver  in  hand. 

^'  No  ;  what's  the  use?"  demanded  Palmer, 
leaping  to  his  side. 

*'  Then  I'm  off  after  help  !  " 

To  the  amazement  of  his  friend,  he  darted 
in  the  direction  of  the  trail  along  which  he  had 
conducted  his  captive  a  short  time  before.  The 
elder  called  to  him  to  return,  believing  he  was 


THROUGH  THE  LINES.  223 

rnsliing  to  certain  death,  but  the  sinewy  youth 
gave  no  heed,  and  before  the  summons  could 
be  repeated  he  was  out  of  sight. 

Success  often  follows  such  instant  seizure  of 
an  advantage,  the  impulse  for  which  comes 
like  an  inspiration.  Had  Lieutenant  Hillson 
hesitated  for  a  single  minute,  he  must  have 
been  brought  down  by  one  of  the  dusky  va- 
grants, who  dreamed  of  no  such  attempt.  The 
shots  had  entered  the  rear  windows,  where  the 
warriors  were  telegraphing  to  their  leader. 
They  fired  blindly,  only  taking  care  not  to 
harm  the  Wild  Cat,  and  then  started  around 
the  structure  to  cover  the  flight  of  the  prisoner, 
who  they  knew  would  seize  his  opportunity 
on  the  instant.  Before  they  could  make  the 
circuit  he  met  them. 

It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Hillson  took  his 
desperate  chance,  and,  instead  of  turning  to 
the  left,  on  the  heels  of  the  fugitive,  sped  up 
the  faintly  marked  path  toward  the  mountain 
trail  where  he  and  his  friend  had  left  their 
horses. 

He  expected  to  hear  the  crack  of  rifles 
behind  him,  and  perhaps  to  be  wounded  ;  but 


224  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAYINE. 

believing  lie  had  taken  the  only  course  that 
could  save  his  friends,  he  bent  his  whole  ener- 
gies to  flight,  not  venturing  to  reply  to  his  com- 
rade, nor  even  to  glance  over  his  shoulder. 

Lieutenant  Palmer  was  as  quick  of  percep- 
tion as  his  friend,  and  understood  the  meaning 
of  the  break.  Dreading  the  consequences  of 
the  reckless  act,  he  held  his  place  by  the  open 
door,  ready  to  fire  at  the  first  warrior  attempt- 
ing pursuit ;  but  the  seconds  passed,  and  he 
knew  Hillson  was  using  them  for  their  utmost 
worth.  Nothing  could  prevent  his  reaching 
the  main  path  after  gaining  so  good  a  start, 
for  the  very  boldness  of  his  flight  had  done 
that  which  the  most  deliberate  preparation 
would  have  failed  to  accomplish. 

Furthermore,  Palmer  believed  that,  though 
several  minutes  had  passed,  there  was  a  chance 
of  following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  friend,  and 
he  would  have  done  so  but  for  his  reluctance 
to  desert  Mr.  Rainsford  and  Bessie. 

^' Thank  Heaven!"  murmured  the  gentle- 
man, when  he  saw  his  child  was  unharmed  ; 
'*I  don't  see  how  you  escaped,  but,  like  the 
rest  of  us,  you  are  safe." 


THROUGH  THE  LINES.  225 

He  placed  her  on  her  feet  again  and  cau- 
tioned lier  to  keep  in  the  rear  part  of  the  room, 
beyond  reach  of  the  bullets.  She  obeyed,  as 
she  always  did,  her  greatest  wonderment  being 
that  the  Wild  Cat  should  have  set  her  down 
with  such  suddenness  before  replying  to  her 
question. 

*^I  don't  think  I  would  pose  there,  lieuten- 
ant," said  Mr.  Kainsford,  observing  the  intense 
attitude  of  Palmer  at  the  door.  "  You  wear  a 
nice  uniform,  but  it  won't  impress  an  Indian 
as  too  good  to  shoot  at." 

''  I  was  trying  to  cover  the  flight  of  Hillson," 
replied  Palmer,  stepping  back  and  hastily 
fastening  the   door. 

"  Whither  has  he  gone?"  asked  Eainsford. 

*'He  took  a  sudden  notion  to  make  for  the 
fort,  I  presume,  or  some  point  where  he  can 
get  help.  I  don't  know  whether  it  was  a  wise 
act  or  not." 

**  That  will  speedily  appear ;  but  there  is  no 
questioning  its  bravery." 

''  No  one  who  knows  Lieutenant  Hillson  has 
ever  questioned  his  bravery,"  was  the  honest 
compliment  of  his  comrade. 

15 


226  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

''  I  observe  lie  went  in  such  haste  that  he 
left  his  Winchester  behind,  though  he  may 
have  done  so  purposely." 

"I  am  quite  sure  he  did,  fearing  it  would 
affect  his  speed,  which  is  of  the  first  conse- 
quence in  reaching  the  mountain  trail." 

"More  than  likely  you  are  right;  but 
hark!" 

Lieutenant  Palmer  turned  pale,  for  the 
sounds  that  alarmed  him  and  his  friend  were 
the  reports  of  weapons  from  the  direction  of 
the  mountain  trail,  which  until  that  moment 
it  was  hoped  Hillson  had  reached  in  safety. 

Mr.  Rainsford  compressed  his  lips  and  shook 
his  head. 

''I  fear  the  worst  for  him,"  he  said,  and 
Palmer's  heart  echoed  the  words. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

THE  LESSER   TRAIL. 

THE  sliots  from  the  direction  of  the  moun- 
tain trail  filled  Lieutenant  Palmer  and 
Mr.  Rainsford  with  dismay,  for  they  proved 
that  Hillson,  despite  the  excellent  start  gained, 
had  been  discovered  before  he  could  reach  a 
safe  point  in  his  flight  from  the  cabin.  Pro- 
vided he  found  his  mare  where  she  was  left  ear- 
lier in  the  afternoon,  there  was  a  possibility  of 
his  getting  away,  but  the  chances  were  so  over- 
whelmingly against  it  that  the  two  men  forgot 
their  own  danger  in  their  anxiety  for  the 
brave  youth  who  had  assumed  this  risk  for 
their  sakes. 

''  I  wish  I  could  go  to  his  help,"  said  Palmer, 
pacing  the  floor,  ^^for  I  cannot  bear  the 
thought  of  his  fighting  the  Blackfeet  alone." 

*'If  there  was  the  first  chance  of  he]x)ing 

227 


228  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

him  I  would  say  :  ^  Go,  and  God  speed  you  ; ' 
but  there  is  none." 

^'  How  are  you  fixed  for  a  siege  ? "  asked  the 
officer,  facing  abruptly  about. 

"I  couldn't  be  in  much  worse  shape;  ordi- 
narily I  keep  several  days'  supply  of  provisions 
on  hand  and  enough  water  for  a  week ;  but, 
expecting  to  leave  to-morrow  morning  early,  I 
have  enough  only  to  last  until  then." 

*'  That  is  sufficient,"  said  Palmer  decisively, 
''for  I  shall  not  stay  here  longer  than  to- 
night. We  must  make  a  break  before  day- 
light ;  there  is  no  moon  until  near  morning, 
and  that  is  in  our  favor." 

*'Hark!"  said  the  elder,  raising  his  hand. 
The  others  listened,  but  all  remained  still. 

''  What  did  you  hear  ? "  asked  Palmer. 

''Nothing;  the  firing  has  ceased,  and  prob- 
ably it  is  ended  one  way  or  the  other.  Hold  ! " 
he  added,  in  some  excitement ;  "  those  reports 
showed  that  several  Indians  were  near  the 
upper  trail ;  do  you  conceive  it  likely  that 
the  Wild  Cat  will  send  all  his  men  after  the 
one  fugitive  ? " 

Why  not?    As  you  have  shown,  he  will 


<( 


THE  LESSER  TRAIL.  229 

realize  that  if  Hillson  gets  away  lie  is  sure  to 
secure  help,  and  he  will  bend  every  energy  to 
prevent  it." 

*'But  hardly  to  the  extent  of  leaving  this 
cabin  unguarded,  though  it  may  be  unwatched 
at  this  moment ;  and  if  we  do  leave,  7ioio  is  the 
time." 

^'I  agree  with  you,"  said  Palmer,  greatly 
impressed,  "and  we  haven't  a  minute  to  lose. 
It  won't  do  to  take  anything  excex)t  what  can 
be  easily  carried  in  our  hands." 

"Make  sure  of  the  gun  of  your  friend  as 
well  as  your  own,  while  I  look  after  Bessie." 

Naturally  the  little  one  required  the  most 
attention,  for  her  hat  had  to  be  adjusted,  her 
sacque  secured  about  her  with  some  other 
extra  clothing,  while  no  stress  of  circumstances 
could  induce  her  to  leave  her  doll  Peggy  be- 
hind. With  the  help  of  her  father,  however, 
the  arrangements  were  quickly  made. 

"I  will  lead  the  way,"  he  said,  observing 
that  his  friend  was  about  to  anticipate  him. 

"  But  you  have  her,  and  would  better  keep 
in  the  background." 

"No;  we  shall  not  take  the  route  of  the 


230  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

others,  but  a  new  course  witli  wliicli  I  am 
familiar.  I  shall  seek  the  place  where  my 
horse  ought  to  be  grazing.     Come  on." 

Bessie,  who  onlydimly  understood  the  cause 
of  this  hurry,  was  about  to  ask  for  some  expla- 
nation, but  a  word  from  her  j^arent  closed  her 
lips,  and  slipping  her  hand  within  his,  she 
bravely  accompanied  him  to  the  door. 

The  act  of  our  friends  was  reckless.  Mr. 
Eainsford  paused  on  the  threshold  as  if  about 
to  recede,  but,  with  a  prayer  to  Heaven,  he 
resolutely  stepped  forward,  and  moving 
rapidly,  turned  to  the  left,  that  being  the 
course  of  the  Wild  Cat  in  his  dash  for 
liberty. 

It  seems  incredible  that  a  band  of  Indians, 
assailing  a  cabin  like  that  of  Mr.  Eainsford, 
should,  at  the  very  beginning,  give  an  oppor- 
tunity to  those  within  to  walk  forth  to  free- 
dom. Such  a  thing,  it  maybe  insisted,  has 
never,  and,  in  the  nature  of  things,  can  never 
take  x^lace. 

But  for  the  reports  of  guns  from  the  moun- 
tain trail  Mr.  Eainsford  would  not  have 
thought  of  the  attempt  he  now  made.     To  him 


THE   LESSER  TRAIL.  231 

it  seemed  that  failure  at  one  end  of  the  line 
was  necessary  for  success  at  the  other. 

The  most  trying  moment  in  the  flight  of  him- 
self and  the  lieutenant  was  when  they  turned 
the  corner  of  the  cabin  and  left  the  closed 
door  out  of  sight  to  the  rear.  They  then  knew 
they  had  gone  too  far  to  return ;  they  had 
burned  their  bridges  behind  them. 

The  sun  had  set,  and  the  obscurity  of  twi- 
light was  settling  over  the  dismal  solitude.  The 
Bear  Paw  Mountains,  with  their  vast  gorges, 
caiions,  ravines,  chasms,  wooded  peaks,  and 
depths  of  gloomy  wilderness  would  soon  be 
wrapped  in  the  darkness  of  night.  Rainsford 
would  have  been  immeasurably  relieved  could 
he  have  postponed  the  attempt  until  a  later 
hour,  for  the  chance  of  success  would  have 
been  far  greater. 

*'  I  wish  that  Hillson  had  his  Winchester,'^ 
reflected  Lieutenant  Palmer,  as  he  glided  like 
a  shadow  after  the  form  of  Rainsford;  ^^for, 
though  I  may  need  it,  he  is  sure  to  need  it 
still  more." 

Mr.  Rainsford  clasped  the  hand  of  Bessie 
tightly  in  his  own,  holding  his  Winchester  in 


232  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

the  other  in  a  trailing  position,  while  eyes  and 
ears  were  on  the  alert  for  the  first  sign  of 
danger. 

Every  foot  advanced  was  in  his  favor,  now 
that  it  was  impossible  to  return  to  the  cabin. 
He  was  following  no  well-beaten  path,  but  one 
made  by  his  own  feet  in  visiting  the  pastu- 
rage ground  of  his  horse,  and  which  was 
marked  just  enough  to  make  his  progress  easy. 
Palmer  noticed  that  it  continually  descended, 
indicating  that  the  spot  where  he  had  left  his 
animal  was  in  a  species  of  valley,  probably  a 
part  of  that  along  which  the  mountain  trail 
skirted. 

When  the  progress  had  continued  a  hundred 
yards  the  fugitives  began  to  breathe  more 
freely.  Now  that  he  was  debarred  from  help- 
ing his  comrade  in  arms.  Palmer  was  anxious 
to  protect  Mr.  Rainsford  and  his  child  so  far 
as  it  was  possible  for  him  to  do  so.  It  was 
reasonable  to  believe,  after  having  penetrated 
to  this  point,  that  whatever  danger  threatened 
would  approach  from  the  rear.  The  Blackfeet 
wdio  had  pressed  Hillson  so  sorely  would 
speedily  return  to  the  cabin,  and  though  the 


THE  LESSER  TEAIL.  233 

door  was  shut,  they  were  likely  soon  to  dis- 
cover what  had  taken  place.  They  would 
then  know  the  folks  had  followed  the  opposite 
course  from  that  of  the  fugitive,  and  would 
put  forth  every  effort  to  overtake  them  before 
they  passed  beyond  reach. 

According  to  the  views  of  the  lieutenant, 
his  position  as  rear  guard  was  the  most  imjDor- 
tant,  and  it  was  this  conviction  that  led  him 
to  slacken  his  pace  so  as  to  interpose  more 
ground  between  him  and  his  friends.  Thus,  if 
the  officer  were  forced  into  a  collision  with  any 
of  the  Indians,  Mr.  Rainsford  would  have  the 
better  opportunity  to  save  the  little  girl  and 
himself. 

Palmer  would  have  preferred  to  make 
known  the  cause  of  his  slackening  pace,  but  it 
was  too  perilous  to  call  out.  His  knowledge 
of  his  companion  led  him  to  hope  he  would 
understand  his  course  without  explanation. 

But  in  his  anxiety  to  befriend  him  and  his 
child,  the  lieutenant  committed  the  natural 
mistake  of  allowing  too  much  space  between 
them.  He  forgot  that  night  was  rapidly  clos- 
ing in,   and  was  alarmed  when,   in  peering 


234  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

aliead,  lie  failed  to  see  the    figures  of  Mr. 
Rainsford  and  Bessie. 

^'Tliis  won't  do,"  lie  concluded,  hastening 
his  steps  ;  * '  it  is  against  the  principles  of  war 
to  divide  your  forces  in  the  presence  of  the 

enemy Hallo!    it's  all   right  now,"  he 

added,  as  he  observed  a  shadowy  figure  walk- 
ing ahead  of  him  in  the  gloom. 

He  could  not  see  as  distinctly  as  he  desired, 
for,  as  the  trail  descended  into  the  valley  the 
density  of  the  woods  seemed  to  increase, 
rendering  the  light  treacherous  and  uncertain. 
There  were  remarkably  few  bowlders  or  rocks 
encountered,  though  plenty  of  them  were  near. 
In  traversing  the  route,  Mr.  Rainsford  had 
naturally  sought  the  easiest  course  and  avoided 
all  obstructions  i^ossible. 

Palmer  saw  only  the  head  and  shoulders  of 
the  figure  in  front,  the  rest  of  the  body  being 
hidden  by  the  vegetation  which  in  many  places 
overhung  the  path.  He  detected  nothing  of 
Bessie,  whose  figure  was  too  tiny  to  rise  into 
his  field  of  vision. 

It  would  have  been  easier  for  the  father  to 
place  his  child  immediately  in  front  or  rear, 


THE  LESSER  TRAIL.  235 

because  of  tlie  straitness  of  tlie  path,  and 
under  ordinary  circumstances  he  would  have 
done  so,  but  his  solicitude  for  her  was  so  deep 
that  he  could  not  let  her  hand  pass  out  of  his 
own,  though  to  retain  it  increased  the  diffi- 
culty of  walking.  Should  the  trail  become  too 
narrow  to  permit  them  to  journey  side  by  side, 
he  would  lift  her  in  his  arms. 

While  the  general  course  of  the  path  was 
downward  there  were  places  showing  a  slight 
rise,  as  was  the  case  with  the  mountain  trail 
along  which  he  and  Hillson  had  ridden  earlier 
in  the  day,  and  it  was  this  fact  that  imparted 
a  bit  of  information  to  Lieutenant  Palmer 
which  fairly  took  away  his  breath. 

The  figure  ahead  came  more  fully  into  view 
because  of  one  of  the  elevations  named,  than 
when  both  were  on  a  common  level.  There 
was  enough  light  to  show  his  form  quite  dis- 
tinctly to  the  knees,  as  it  happened  that  both 
sides  of  the  path  were  more  open  than  usual. 

Palmer  was  gaining,  and,  watching  the  man 
as  he  came  into  clearer  view,  he  observed  that 
he  was  alone.  Little  Bessie  was  nowhere  in 
sight.     He  would  have  concluded  that  she  was 


236  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVHSTE. 

walking  in  front,  had  not  the  second  glance 
revealed  that  he  was  not  following  Mr.  Kains- 
ford,  but  an  Indian  warrior  ! 

This  astonishing  discovery,  while  explaining 
the  child's  absence,  comx3licated  matters  still 
more,  for,  despite  the  lieutenant's  care,  the 
force,  originally  consisting  of  three  men,  had 
been  twice  divided  in  the  face  of  the  enemy, 
and  here,  when  he  never  dreamed  of  the  possi- 
bility, a  Blackfoot  Indian  had  insinuated  him- 
self between  him  and  Mr.  Eainsford. 

Where  he  came  from,  whether  he  knew  of 
the  white  man  following  him  while  he  was 
prowling  after  the  leader,  what  his  intentions 
were,  whether  or  not  there  were  others  in  the 
vicinity,  were  questions  which  it  was  useless 
to  consider,  since  it  was  clearly  out  of  his 
power  to  answer  them. 

*'You  have  no  business  there,"  muttered 
Palmer,  breaking  into  a  stealthy  loi:)e,  and 
holding  himself  ready  to  use  one  of  his  guns 
the  instant  the  emergency  arose. 

His  dread  was  that  the  Indian  would  steal 
close  enough  to  Mr.  Rainsford  to  do  him  ill. 
Taking  it  for  granted  that  the  young  officer 


THE  LESSER  TRAIL.  237 

was  protecting  tlie  rear,  lie  was  likely  to  give 
less  attention  to  that  than  to  the  front,  thus 
increasing  his  enemy's  chances  in  any  move 
against  him. 

But  if  the  Blackfoot  was  cunning  enough  to 
step  between  friends  in  this  manner,  he  was 
quite  sure  to  be  on  guard  against  any  such 
trick  as  the  lieutenant  contemplated.  Appear- 
ances indicated  that  he  was  unaware  of  the 
whereabouts  of  Palmer  at  the  moment  of  enter- 
ing the  path  and  beginning  his  peculiar  pur- 
suit of  Mr.  Rainsford  and  his  child,  but  this 
ignorance  could  not  continue. 

Nothing  would  have  been  easier  than  to 
shoot  the  skulking  savage,  who  was  only  a 
few  rods  in  advance,  but  he  had  no  intention 
of  that,  since  as  yet  there  was  no  call  to  pro- 
ceed to  such  extremes,  and  the  report  of  the 
gun  was  quite  sure  to  bring  others  to  the  spot. 

The  head,  shoulders,  and  body  of  the  Black- 
foot  steadily  dropped,  as,  having  passed  the 
higher  point,  he  descended  the  brief  slope  on 
the  other  side,  while  his  pursuer  rose  more 
rapidly,  for  he  kept  up  a  trot. 

A  few  seconds  were  enough  to  take  him  to 


238  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

the  elevation,  where,  recalling  that,  if  the 
Indian  looked  around,  he  was  sure  to  see  him. 
Palmer  crouched  low  and  moved  as  stealthily 
as  he  could  down  the  declivity.  This  extreme 
care,  however,  proved  unnecessary,  since  he 
had  taken  only  a  few  steps  when  he  discovered 
that  he  was  following  no  one.  The  warrior 
who  was  in  his  front  a  moment  before  was 
there  no  longer.  His  keen  senses  had  apjirised 
him  of  his  danger,  and  he  concluded  the  occa- 
sion was  a  favorable  one  for  disappearing. 

While  this  was  gratifying  in  one  sense,  it 
was  disturbing  in  another  ;  for,  to  rejoin  Mr. 
Rainsford  in  front,  the  officer  must  continue 
along  the  path  and  pass  directly  in  front  of 
the  Blackfoot,  who  would  doubtless  be  crouch- 
ing like  a  panther  to  leap  upon  him  the  instant 
he  came  within  reach. 

But  the  lieutenant  hesitated  only  a  moment 
as  to  his  right  course.  He  was  convinced  that 
the  occasion  called  for  a  smaller  fire-arm  than 
his  rifle,  and  besides  the  report  would  not  be 
heard  so  far  away.  Accordingly  he  slii:>ped 
both  guns  under  his  left  arm,  and,  holding  his 
revolver  in  his  right  hand,  moved  down  the 


THE  LESSER  TRAIL.  239 

slope  toward  the  point  where  he  believed  his 
enemy  was  waiting  for  him. 

Had  he  been  familiar  with  the  locality  he 
would  have  tried  to  flank  his  enemy,  but  to 
turn  to  the  right  or  left  would  involve  him  in 
a  labyrinth  of  difficulty,  with  the  prospect  of 
losing  his  way  altogether,  without  giving  him 
the  first  advantage  over  his  subtle  foe. 

It  was  a  tremendous  test  of  the  officer's 
nerves.  He  was  advancing  upon  a  treacherous 
Indian  without  knowing  where  he  was  or 
from  what  quarter  his  deadly  blow  would 
come.  He  was  uncertain,  even,  whether  he 
was  on  his  right  or  left,  but  with  sight  and 
hearing  at  the  highest  tension,  he  advanced 
quietly  along  the  trail,  glancing  in  every  direc- 
tion and  on  the  alert. 

He  had  passed  perhaps  fifty  feet  beyond  the 
slight  elevation,  when  a  shiver  of  apprehen- 
sion passed  over  him,  for  he  was  certain  he 
saw  the  Biackfoot  crouching  on  his  right  and 
close  to  the  path.  It  looked  as  if  he  had 
managed,  after  all,  to  come  upon  the  warrior  so 
unexpectedly  that  he  had  no  time  to  conceal 
himself  in  the  abundant  vegetation   around 


240  THE  PATH   IN   THE  EAVINE. 

liim.  Certain  that  lie  was  trying  to  do  so,  tlie 
lieutenant  paused,  and  levelling  his  revolver, 
said  in  a  low  voice  : 

"  Stej)  in  front  of  me  or  I  will  shoot  I  " 

Possibly  the  red  man  did  not  understand 
the  words,  for  there  was  no  move  to  obey  the 
command. 

The  situation  was  too  critical  to  admit  of 
trifling.  There  was  no  saying  how  far  in 
advance  Mr.  Rainsford  had  got  by  this  time, 
and  the  distance  was  increasing  each  second. 
Palmer  repeated  his  command  in  the  same 
low,  but  earnest  voice  : 
.   ''  Stand  up  or  I  will  fire  !  " 

Not  the  slightest  movement  followed,  and 
with  his  pistol  pointed  full  at  the  figure  the 
lieutenant  let  fly  with  two  chambers  in  quick 
succession. 

He  expected  a  wild  leap  and  cry  to  follow, 
accompanied  perha]3s  by  a  fierce  bound  at  him, 
to  avoid  which  he  recoiled  a  step,  with  his 
weapon  ready  to  use  again,  if  necessary. 

But  to  his  amazement  the  figure  did  not  stir. 
It  looked  as  if  he  had  missed  and  the  Black- 
foot  was  coolly  defying  him. 


THE   LESSEK  TPwAIL.  241 

The  officer  stood  a  moment  bewildered,  and 
then,  prompted  by  a  susi)icion  which  flashed 
across  his  mind,  he  stej^ped  guardedly  forward 
and  scrutinized  the  form  before  him. 

"  Well !  "  he  exclaimed,  "I  aint  very  proud 
oitliatf' 

The  remnant  of  a  tree,  probably  shattered 
by  lightning,  so  as  to  leave  a  few  feet  of  sx)lin- 
tered  stump,  had  been  mistaken  for  the  form 
of  an  Indian  and  had  received  the  two  bullets 
which  the  lieutenant  was  so  prompt  to  fire. 

"  No  wonder  he  didn't  obey  me,"  he  added, 
moving  hastily  past  the  stump,  and  wondering 
how,  even  in  the  gloom,  he  made  the  absurd 
blunder. 

But  his  enemy  could  not  be  far  off,  as  was 
proven  the  next  instant,  when  he  was  heard 
moving  so  hurriedly  among  the  vegetation  that 
his  course  was  easily  traceable.  He  had  left 
the  path  and  was  effecting  a  change  of  base 
with  all  possible  despatch. 

The  lieutenant  decided  that  he  had  reason  to 
congratulate  himself,  after  all,  for  though  his 
revolver  had  inflicted  no  damage,  it  was  the 
means  of  dislodging  the  Blackfoot  from  a  posi- 

16 


242  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAYINE. 

tion  in  which  it  was  easy  to  pick  off  the 
courageous  youth. 

He  knew  Mr.  Rainsf ord  had  heard  the  report 
of  his  weapon,  and  doubtless  would  stop  in  his 
flight  to  learn  the  cause.  He  was  likely  to 
identify  the  sound  as  that  of  a  pistol  instead 
of  a  Winchester,  and  could  not  fail  to  know 
that  the  rear  guard  had  collided  with  the 
enemy. 

Palmer  did  not  dare  to  call  out,  though 
tempted  to  do  so,  for  he  feared  bringing  other 
parties  to  the  spot.  They  were  still  near 
enough  to  the  cabin,  and,  indeed  to  the  moun- 
tain trail,  for  the  Wild  Cat  and  his  party  to 
hear  the  report  of  the  revolver,  which  was 
likely  to  hurry  them  forward. 

The  gloom  was  deepening,  and  the  officer 
was  not  long  in  learning  that  he  must  moderate 
his  pace  to  avoid  straying  from  the  path  and 
losing  his  way.  He  had  narrowly  missed  leav- 
ing it  more  than  once,  and  he  found  it  neces- 
sary to  halt  now  and  then  and  nse  his  hands  to 
make  sure  of  the  right  course. 

But  recalling  that  Mr.  Kainsford  had  told 
him  that  the  spot  where  he  hoped  to  find  his 


THE   LESSER  TRAIL.  243 

horse  was  only  a  fourth  of  a  mile  away  from 
the  cabin,  he  concluded  that  he  had  already 
travelled  that  distance,  and  consequently  it 
was  time  he  saw  or  heard  something  of  his 
friend. 

Pushing  on  a  short  way  farther,  he  halted, 
convinced  that  it  was  imprudent  to  advance 
another  step.  He  had  stood  but  a  minute, 
however,  when  he  caught  the  sound  of  a 
guarded  whistle — so  faint  that  at  first  he  could 
not  determine  the  point  wlience  it  came. 

''  Possibly  it  is  Mr.  Rainsford,"  he  reflected, 
"but  more  likely  it  is  the  Wild  Cat  or  one  of 
his  warriors,  and  I'll  make  him  uncover  first." 

And  with  this  prudent  conclusion,  he 
crouched  as  low  as  possible  in  the  vegetation 
at  the  side  of  the  path. 


CHAPTER  XXYIL 

TUENING  THE  TABLES. 

STANDING  as  motionless  as  a  statue  in  the 
gloom.  Lieutenant  Palmer  listened  to  the 
guarded  signal  which  reached  him  from  some 
point  near  at  hand,  though  so  faintly  that  he 
was  unable  to  decide  the  direction,  until  after 
a  full  minute's  pause  he  heard  it  again,  with 
just  enough  increase  of  force  to  show  that  the 
one  emitting  it  was  in  front  and  close  at 
hand. 

The  officer's  good  fortune  thus  far  gave  him 
enough  confidence  to  reply  to  the  signal  when 
he  noted  it  the  second  time,  though  he  still 
suspected  it  came  from  a  foe  instead  of  a 
friend. 

^' Hallo,  lieutenant,  is  that  you?" 

The  query  was  uttered  in  a  cautious  under- 
tone, but  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  its  source. 

''  Yes  ;  where  are  you,  Mr.  Eainsford  ?  " 

S44 


TUEXING   THE  TABLES.  245 

The  liead  and  shoulders  of  his  friend  rose  to 
view,  not  half  a  dozen  paces  away,  and  Palmer 
moved  forward  to  greet  him. 

^^It  seems  to  me,"  said  the  elder,  *'that 
matters  are  getting  mixed  ;  why  did  you  fire 
your  pistol  just  now  1 " 

*'  I  tried  to  hit  an  Indian,  but  didn't." 

''Where  was  he?" 

"He  got  between  you  and  me  in  the  path ; 
but  when  he  found  I  was  after  him,  he  slipped 
away.     Where  is  Bessie  ? " 

"A  few  steps  off;  she  understands  the 
trouble,  and  not  only  treads  as  lightly  as  a 
fawn,  but  hardly  ever  speaks  except  in  a 
whisper." 

"  Why  did  you  halt  here  ?  " 

''  I  missed  you,  and  besides,  the  spot  where 
I  have  been  keeping  my  horse  is  just  beyond." 

"Is  he  here?" 

"I  haven't  seen  him  yet,  but  I  am  hopeful 
of  doing  so.  Come  with  me,  and,  if  you  please, 
don't  fall  far  enough  behind  to  tempt  another 
interloper  to  slip  between." 

"No  fear  of  that,"  replied  Palmer,  follow- 
ing close  upon  the  heels  of  his  friend. 


246  THE  PATH  IN   THE   EAVINE. 

A  few  steps  farther  and  he  perceived  that 
Bessie  was  again  walking  beside  her  father. 
Shortly  after  they  emerged  into  a  natural  clear- 
ing of  a  half  acre's  extent.  There  were  bushes 
and  shrubbery  at  intervals,  but  even  in  the 
gloom  it  was  easy  to  see  the  place  was  admir- 
ably fitted  to  furnish  the  best  of  grazing  for 
horse  or  kine. 

The  ever-i^resent  fear  of  an  attack  by  the 
Blackfeet  kept  the  little  party  on  the  move. 
There  were  many  places  where  a  large  animal 
could  conceal  itself  against  a  prolonged  search 
in  the  darkness,  and  the  owner  of  the  horse 
did  not  attempt  to  search  for  him.  Instead, 
he  called  the  name  "Saladin"  several  times, 
sufficiently  loud  to  be  heard  a  hundred  yards 
away. 

The  wonderfully  good  fortune  which  had 
attended  Mr.  Rainsford  thus  far  remained  with 
him,  for,  at  the  first  call,  an  answering  neigh 
came  from  the  lower  side  of  the  clearing,  and 
the  horse,  concerning  which  there  was  so  much 
anxiety,  trotted  toward  tliem. 

''  Oh,  there  he  is  !  "  exclaimed  the  delighted 
Bessie,  clapxDing  her  hands  and  running  a  few 


TURNING  THE  TABLES.  247 

steps  to  meet  the  noble  animal,  which,  pausing 
with  a  snuff  of  i)leasnre,  reached  down  his 
nose  for  her  to  caress. 

''Mr.  Rainsford,"  said  the  surprised  lieu- 
tenant, "how  is  it  that  he  is  saddled  and 
bridled?" 

"I  did  that  this  afternoon,  removing  the 
bit  so  that  he  could  graze  ;  you  will  remember 
I  told  you  we  meant  to  start  early,  and  though 
I  was  obliged  to  leave  many  things  behind,  we 
are  well  enough  provided  as  it  is." 

"  You  are  fortunate,  indeed  ;  but  how  about 
leaving  this  place  ?  We  shall  have  to  follow 
the  x)ath  that  leads  by  your  house  and  ui3  to 
the  mountain  trail,  where  we  are  likely  to 
meet  our  old  acquaintances." 

"It  is  not  so  bad  as  that,"  was  the  reply, 
"  though  not  as  favorable  as  I  could  wish. 
We  will  push  beyond  this  opening,  and  then, 
by  climbing  a  steep  x>ath  to  the  left,  reach  the 
main  one,  which  leads  along  the  mountain 
side,  and  which,  unfortunately,  is  the  only 
avenue  that  will  take  us  out  of  the  neigh- 
borhood." 

' '  Will  you  mount  your  horse  ? " 


248  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAYINE. 

*'  Not  until  we  reach  the  mountain  trail, 
because  the  climb  is  too  steep,  and  Saladin 
will  have  all  he  can  do  without  carrying  any- 
extra  burden,  but  he  will  follow  wherever  we 
lead." 

The  gentleman  moved  along  the  upper  side 
of  the  clearing  holding  Bessie's  hand,  the 
horse  just  behind  her,  while  the  lieutenant,  as 
before,  formed  the  rear  guard.  Only  a  short 
distance  was  passed  when  the  leader  made  an 
abrupt  turn  to  the  .left,  pausing  to  say : 

**  The  j)ath  here  is  so  narrow  that  we  shall 
have  to  walk  in  Indian  file  ;  I  will  go  in  front, 
Bessie  next,  and  Saladin  and  you  last." 

Mr.  Rainsford  was  correct  when  he  said  that 
the  tributary  trail  was  precipitous.  It  seemed 
to  the  lieutenant  that  they  were  climbing 
directly  up  the  mountain-side,  compelling  even 
such  a  fine  athlete  as  he  to  breathe  faster  than 
usual,  while  it  was  equally  hard  on  the  others. 
He  was  surprised  to  observe  how  well  Saladin 
did  his  part.  Occasionally  his  hoofs  knocked 
a  stone  loose,  and  he  stumbled  slightly  once 
or  twice,  but  persevered,  like  the  intelligent 
animal  he  was.     It  may  have  been  he  remem- 


TURNING  THE  TABLES.  249 

bered  his  previous  experience,  for  otherwise 
he  must  have  fallen. 

After  a  time,  the  leader  halted  to  give  all  a 
breathing  spell. 

"  How  does  Bessie  stand  it  ? "  asked  Palmer, 
closing  in  about  his  friends,  and  mopping  his 
brow  with  his  handkerchief. 

*'Ifc's  pretty  hard  work,"  said  the  cheerful 
girl,  ''but  I  can  stand  it  if  you  and  Saladin 
can." 

*'  We  haven't  much  farther  to  go,"  remarked 
her  father,  "  and  when  v/e  reach  the  mountain 
trail  we  will  take  turns  in  riding." 

"From  that  point  how  far  is  it  to  where 

9 

Hillson  and  I  left  it  in  such  a  harry  1" 

"Less  than  a  fourth  of  a  mile." 

"  If  I  shall  be  fortunate  enough  to  come 
across  my  horse,  it  will  be  plain  sailing  thence- 
forward." 

"I  am  sure  you  build  no  hope  upon  any 
such  imiDossibility  as  tliatf'' 

"  No,"  replied  Palmer,  with  a  sigh. 

The  journey  was  resumed  and  found  as 
difficult  as  before,  the  progress  often  being  of 
the  roughest  nature,  but  they  were  cheered  by 


250  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

the  knowledge  that  they  were  close  to  the  main 
path  or  mountain  trail. 

*'  This  is  the  last  stoj),"  remarked  the  leader, 
when  the  panting  travellers  paused  again, 
*'for  we  are  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the 
other  path." 

"  Why  should  we  stop  at  all  ? " 

'*We  will  be  in  better  shax)e  when  the 
climbing  is  ended." 

'^I  will  go  back  a  little  way,"  said  the  lieu- 
tenant, *'and  listen  for  the  Blackfeet,  for  it 
cannot  be  possible  we  are  rid  of  them." 

He  retraced  his  steps  a  short  distance,  but 
saw  and  heard  nothing.  Kecalling  the  com- 
mon expedient  of  persons  in  his  situation,  he 
lay  flat  on  his  face  and  pressed  his  ear  to  the 
ground. 

The  result  was  disquieting,  for  he  did  hear 
someone  treading  the  path.  The  sounds  were 
very  faint,  and  when  he  raised  his  head  be- 
came inaudible. 

His  first  thought  was  that  the  disturbance 
was  produced  by  hoofs,  but  he  was  convinced 
that  the  cause  was  moccasons  and  that  there 
were  several  pairs  of  them.     The  fact  that  he 


TURNIl^G  THE  TABLES.  251 

could  hear  them  at  all  was  proof  that  they 
were  alarmingly  near. 

Lieutenant  Palmer  was  puzzled,  and  for  a 
minute  or  two  undecided  what  to  do.  His 
inclination  was  to  hasten  back  and  warn 
Rainsford  of  this  new  and  imminent  danger, 
but  he  feared  his  enemies  would  follow  so 
quickly  that  escape  would  be  cut  off. 

He  wondered  that  he  could  not  see  the 
Blackfeet,  when,  resting  on  his  hands,  he 
raised  his  head  and  peered  into  the  gloom 
behind  him,  for,  as  has  been  shown,  there 
could  be  no  question  that  they  were  very 
near. 

For  the  third  and  last  time  he  bent  his  head 
to  the  earth  and  listened  intently.  To  his 
astonishment  he  heard  nothing. 

What  could  it  mean  ?  Could  it  be  the  war- 
riors were  moving  in  the  opposite  direction, 
and  had  passed  beyond  hearing  ?  Or  had  they 
come  to  a  halt  on  learning  they  were  so  near 
the  fugitives  ? 

These  questions  were  in  the  mind  of  the 
young  officer  when  a  noise,  different  from  any- 
thing yet  noted,  struck  his  ear,  and,  before  he 


352  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

could  spring  up  or  guess  its  nature  it  seemed 
that  a  mountainous  bowlder  liad  fallen  upon 
liim. 

From  the  gloom  immediately  behind  bounded 
a  sinewy  Indian,  landing  on  the  back  and 
shoulders  of  the  lieutenant  with  a  violence  that 
almost  drove  the  breath  from  his  body.  He 
struggled  fiercely,  but  was  caught  at  a  fatal 
disadvantage.  He  twisted,  turned,  and 
writhed  with  such  vigor  that  he  would  have 
displaced  the  incubus  had  not  his  assailant 
been  joined  by  a  second  and  third  Indian,  all 
of  whom  took  a  hand  in  the  unequal  struggle. 
The  two  rifles  to  which  Palmer  had  clung  were 
wrenched  from  his  grasp,  and  before  he  could 
prevent  it  he  was  a  prisoner  as  powerless  as  a 
child. 

But  his  tongue  was  at  command,  and  before 
any  of  his  cajDtors  suspected  his  purpose  he 
shouted : 

"Eun,  Mr.  Eainsford,  they  have  me  fast ! " 


CHAPTEH  XXVIII. 

THE  WILD   cat's  PRISONERS. 

IT  was  a  startling  cry  that  rang  out  along 
tlie  mountain-side  in  the  profound  stillness 
of  the  night,  but  no  one  hearing  the  words 
could  mistake  their  meaning. 

Lieutenant  Palmer  was  quick-witted  enough 
to  catch  a  single  ray  of  hope  from  a  feature 
of  his  stirring  experience  which  would  have 
escaped  the  notice  of  most  captives  in  his 
situation.  Nothing  was  clearer  than  the  fact 
that,  had  they  chosen  to  slay  him,  they  could 
have  done  so  with  the  utmost  ease  and  without 
the  slightest  risk  to  themselves.  They  had 
demonstrated  their  overwhelming  strength  and 
their  ability  to  do  as  they  chose  with  him. 

But  from  some  cause  they  refrained,  at  least 
for  the  time,  from  offering  him  harm.  He  was 
panting  from  his  severe  exertions,  and  when 
he  strove  to  rise  he  was  allowed  to  do  so  with- 
out interference  on  their  part. 

253 


354  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

The  young  officer  was  in  a  sorry  condition. 
His  clothing  was  disarranged  and  torn  in  some 
places,  and  both  rifles  were  in  the  possession 
of  his  captors.  Little  fear  of  his  renewing  the 
struggle  under  such  conditions.  He  thought 
there  were  at  least  a  half  dozen  engaged  in  the 
fight,  for  at  times  the  red  men  interfered  with 
each  other  in  the  vigor  of  their  efforts.  But, 
looking  around  in  the  gloom,  only  three  war- 
riors were  in  sight.  He  concluded  that  the 
others  had  hurried  along  the  path  in  pursuit 
of  Mr.  Rainsford. 

Of  course  he  could  not  know  whether  his 
warning  cry  had  done  any  good,  but  he  was 
hopeful  that  it  had.  That  gentleman  was  ex- 
perienced in  the  ways  of  the  border,  and  had 
come  in  collision  with  the  Blackfeet  more  than 
once.  Besides  this,  he  was  familiar  with  the 
locality,  and  ought  to  be  able  to  do  far  better 
than  anyone  else  when  hard  pressed  by  the 
Indians.  It  all  depended  upon  the  time  the 
warning  reached  his  ears  ;  a  few  seconds  might 
settle  his  fate  one  way  or  the  other. 

Another  discouraging  truth  flashed  upon  the 
lieutenant  in  his  hapless  situation.     He  knew 


THE  WILD   cat's   PRISONERS.  255 

tlie  rule  of  the  border,  that  the  first  step  after 
firing  a  weapon  is  to  reload  it  ;  but  two  cham- 
bers of  his  revolver  were  empty,  he  having 
failed  to  recharge  them  after  his  bombard- 
ment of  the  supposed  warrior  at  the  side  of 
the  path ;  but  if  he  could  draw  the  weapon 
unnoticed,  there  were  enough  bullets  left  for 
the  trio,  after  which  he  could  rush  to  the  help 
of  his  friend. 

As  he  stood  on  his  feet  he  was  surrounded 
by  his  captors,  and  it  was  impossible  to  break 
away  in  any  direction.  Not  a  word  was  ut- 
tered by  any  one  of  the  party,  and  he  glared 
at  the  painted  faces  dimly  visible  in  the 
gloom,  wondering  whether  the  Wild  Cat  was 
among  them.     He  thought  not. 

Determined  to  use  his  pistol  if  he  could,  he 
let  his  right  hand  drop  carelessly  at  his  side, 
and  moved  it  cautiously  toward  the  back  of 
his  belt.  He  was  sure  the  action  would  not  be 
noticed,  but  it  was,  and  a  brawny  hand  closed 
like  a  vice  around  his  wrist.  He  struggled  to 
free  himself  and  succeeded,  but  before  doing 
so  his  adversary  deftly  extracted  the  weapon 
from  its  leathern  case. 


256  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

At  last  the  lieutenant  was  utterly  helpless. 
He  was  only  a  youth,  and  these  three  warriors 
were  in  their  i)rime.  Having  possession  of  all 
his  weapons,  it  was  useless  to  resist  further, 
and  he  gave  it  up.  A  feeling  of  despair  came 
over  him,  and  he  sullenly  awaited  the  will  of 
these  red  men,  who  had  turned  the  tables  so 
completely  upon  him. 

The  next  action  of  his  captors  showed  they 
could  not  converse  in  English.  One  of  them 
said  something,  evidently  for  the  prisoner ; 
but,  being  in  the  Indian  lingo,  he  had  no  idea 
of  its  meaning,  though  he  had  picked  up  a  few 
words  of  the  tongue  since  his  assignment  to 
frontier  service. 

The  warrior  repeated  the  words  in  a  louder 
tone,  and  pointed  up  the  path  toward  the 
point  where  he  had  parted  from  Mr.  Rains- 
ford.  The  gesture  was  such  a  plain  command 
for  Palmer  to  move  in  that  direction  that  he 
obeyed  at  once. 

This  was  not  the  order  he  expected,  for  he 
thought  his  captors  would  descend  the  slojie 
again.  He  had  heard  no  sound  from  the  direc- 
tion of  his  friends,  and  was  quite  hopeful  they 


THE  WILD   cat's  PRISONERS.  257 

had  effected  their  escape,  since  the  last  half, 
as  already  shown,  was  near  the  main  trail, 
where  their  horse  would  be  able  to  make 
excellent  progress. 

The  Apaches  of  the  Southwest  have  been 
known  to  trot  up  the  side  of  a  mountain  for  a 
thousand  feet  wdthout  showing  the  least  evi- 
dence of  fatigue  on  reaching  the  crest.  The 
Northern  Indians  sometimes  display  an  endur- 
ance hardly  less  wonderful.  They  are  indiffer- 
ent to  cold,  heat,  hunger,  and  thirst,  and  others 
succumb  where  they  show  no  inconvenience. 

The  three  Blackfeet  holding  Lieutenant 
Palmer  in  custody  climbed  the  steep  path  with 
as  much  ease  as  they  would  have  walked  the 
same  distance  of  level  prairie,  while  the  youth, 
who  was  an  excellent  specimen  of  lusty  man- 
hood, found  the  exertion  of  the  most  trying 
nature,  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  fact  that  he  was 
unaccustomed  to  that  kind  of  labor.  There 
were  other  tests  of  physical  endurance  which 
he  would  have  done  better  than  they ;  for  it 
is  beyond  dispute  that  the  Caucasian  race  is 
capable  of  development  to  a  higher  point  in 
every  direction  than  any  other. 

17 


258  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

While  Lieutenant  Palmer  could  see  no 
present  hope  for  himself,  his  relief  was  great 
at  observing  nothing  of  Mr.  Rainsford  and  his 
child,  for  it  seemed  to  him  that,  if  they  once 
attained  the  mountain  trail,  all  would  be  well. 
The  fact  that  he  had  heard  no  guns  fired  gave 
him  hope. 

Ten  minutes  later  the  party  stood  on  the 
level  path  above,  and  the  keen  eyes  of  the 
prisoner,  scanning  the  course  as  far  as  the 
darkness  would  permit,  still  failed  to  detect  a 
sign  of  his  friends. 

"Thank  Heaven!"  he  murmured,  "that 
the  others  have  been  more  fortunate  than  I." 

His  gratitude  was  mingled  with  a  faint  hope 
for  himself,  for  he  reasoned  that  if  Mr.  Rains- 
ford  succeeded  in  getting  away  he  would  make 
all  haste  to  Fort  Assinaboine  w^ith  word  of  his 
misfortune,  and  immediate  steps  for  his  rescue 
would  be  set  on  foot  by  the  commandant. 
True,  the  vagrant  Blackfeet  meanwhile  would 
have  abundant  opportunity  to  do  what  they 
chose  with  him  ;  but  the  military  arm,  after 
all,  is  the  deterrent  i)ower  and  the  great  civil- 
izing agency  among  the  Indians.    As  has  been 


THE  WILD  cat's  pkisoners.  259 

stated  elsewhere,  these  red  men  were  well 
aware  that  if  harm  befell  him  the  most  search- 
ing investigation  would  be  made,  with  every 
chance  that  the  crime  would  be  fixed  upon  the 
guilty  parties  and  bring  certain  punishment. 

It  was  not  impossible  that  therein  lay  the 
cause  of  the  lieutenant's  present  immunity. 
Perhaps  the  Wild  Cat  had  given  orders  that 
he  was  to  suffer  no  harm  until  everyone  was 
in  custody.  This  was  theorizing  to  the  fine 
point,  but  it  brought  its  measure  of  consola- 
tion to  the  otherwise  hapless  prisoner. 

Palmer  was  disappointed  when,  instead  of 
turning  to  the  left,  thereby  following  the 
course  of  his  friends,  his  captors  took  the 
opposite  direction,  thus  plunging  farther 
among  the  mountains  and  lessening  his 
chances  of  success  in  case  he  made  a  break  for 
liberty,  little  prospect  of  any  such  opportunity 
being  offered  while  the  situation  remained  as 
it  was. 

One  of  the  Blackfeet  took  the  advance, 
the  others  walking  behind  him.  The  only 
possible  way  open,  therefore,  was  by  a  sud- 
den bound  to  the  rio:ht  or  left.     The  latter 


260  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

course  would  compel  liim  to  climb  the  precipi- 
tous mountain-side,  where  the  red  men  would 
be  upon  him  before  he  could  take  a  dozen 
steps.  A  leap  to  the  right  was  equally  hope- 
less, for  the  slope  soon  assumed  such  a  steep 
incline  that  a  venture  would  be  like  the  plunge 
of  the  stricken  buck  over  the  precipice. 

But  the  prisoner  had  scant  time  for  specula- 
tion. The  trail,  which  continued  uniformly- 
even,  wound  in  and  out  among  the  mountains, 
until,  at  a  shorter  bend  than  usual,  a  broad 
ledge  was  reached,  where  the  width  was  fully 
two  score  feet. 

In  this  place  a  large  fire  was  burning,  with 
a  couple  of  Blackfeet  seated  on  the  ground 
smoking  their  long-stemmed  pipes,  and  show- 
ing no  surprise  at  the  arrival  of  their  compan- 
ions and  their  prisoner. 

"I  suppose  this  is  the  court  that  will  settle 
my  case,"  concluded  the  lieutenant,  coming  to 
a  halt  a  few  paces  from  the  fire,  and  awaiting 
the  pleasure  of  his  captors. 

The  three  held  a  brief  conversation  with  the 
couple,  who  seemed  to  feel  no  interest  in  the 
white  man,  though  he  noticed  they  took  care 


THE  WILD   cat's  PEISOISTERS.  261 

SO  to  dispose  of  themselves  that  flight  in  the 
only  possible  direction  was  shut  off. 

The  brief  conversation  finished,  the  two  that 
had  risen  to  their  feet  resumed  their  places  on 
the  ground,  still  smoking  their  pipes.  One  of 
the  new  arrivals  busied  himself  for  a  few  min- 
utes in  gathering  fuel,  which  was  thrown  on 
the  blaze,  whose  glare  must  have  been  visible 
a  long  way  to  the  northward. 

The  lieutenant  did  not  venture  to  sit  down, 
but  stood  with  folded  arms  gloomily  looking 
into  the  embers  and  occasionally  glancing  at 
the  red  men,  whose  countenances  were  doubly 
repellent  in  the  reflection  of  the  firelight. 
They  often  turned  toward  the  trail,  as  though 
looking  for  the  coming  of  someone. 

Since  there  were  five  of  them  present,  and  it 
was  evident  others  were  in  the  neighborhood, 
Palmer  reflected  that  Mr.  Rainsford  must  have 
under-estimated  the  strength  of  the  Wild  Cat's 
band,  for  it  was  likely  that  the  leader  had  fully 
as  many  with  him  ;  and  as  long  as  they  made 
their  home  in  the  recesses  of  the  Bear  Paw 
Mountains  they  could  defy  the  police  authori- 
ties, and  indeed  a  large  military  force. 


262  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

One  of  the  captors  uttered  an  exclamation 
which  turned  all  eyes  in  the  direction  of  the 
trail.  The  lieutenant,  doing  the  same,  saw  four 
more  warriors  approaching.  One  of  them  was 
leading  the  horse  of  Mr.  Eainsford,  and  in 
the  saddle  sat  that  gentleman,  with  Bessie 
supported  in  front  by  one  arm  passed  around 
her  waist.  They,  too,  were  prisoners  of  the 
vagrant  Blackfeet. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

**  NOW,    KITTY,    DO   YOUR  BEST  !  " 

EAINSFORD  and  Palmer  gave  Lieutenant 
Hillson  more  credit  than  was  Ms  due 
when  tliey  believed  he  left  his  Winchester 
behind  because  it  was  likely  to  impede  his 
desperate  flight  from  the  cabin.  In  truth,  the 
officer  had  not  run  a  hundred  yards  when 
he  recalled  his  forgetfulness,  and  felt  he  had 
made  a  mistake  which  promised  to  defeat  the 
very  object  that  insi^ired  the  venture.  He 
would  have  turned  back  for  the  weapon  had 
not  the  thought  come  too  late.  He  therefore 
hurried  along  the  trail  with  his  utmost  speed. 
Lieutenant  Palmer  would  have  felt  no  little 
self-reproof  could  he  have  known  that  he  was 
responsible  for  the  difficulties  and  perils  in 
which  his  friend  speedily  became  involved, 
but  such  was  the   fact. 

The  sudden  break  of  Hillson  carried  him 
beyond  sight  of  the  Blackfeet  before  any  of 

263 


264      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

them  shifted  his  position  so  as  to  gain  a  view 
of  the  front  of  the  house.  The  Wild  Cat  was 
hardly  received  into  the  arms  of  his  friends, 
as  may  be  said,  when  one  of  them  took  it  into 
his  head  to  bring  the  other  side  of  the  struct- 
ure under  surveillance. 

He  stole  into  view  a  few  seconds  after  Hill- 
son  had  vanished,  and  while  Palmer  was  stand- 
ing in  the  half -open  door,  gazing  so  earnestly 
up  the  path  that  the  sagacious  warrior  read 
his  purpose  almost  on  the  instant  the  door 
was  shut.  But  for  that  brief  sight  he  would 
not  have  suspected  the  daring  feat  of  Hillson, 
who  would  have  reached  the  mountain  trail 
with  an  unobstructed  road  to  Fort  Assina- 
boine. 

The  prowling  Blackfoot  made  known  his 
suspicions  to  his  comrades,  and  the  Wild  Cat 
himself,  with  one  of  his  best  men,  set  off  in 
pursuit.  In  doing  so  they  took  care  to  reach 
the  lesser  path  at  a  point  beyond  view  of  those 
in  the  cabin — an  unnecessary  precaution,  since 
neither  Mr.  Rainsford  nor  Lieutenant  Palmer 
happened  to  be  on  the  watch  at  that  moment. 

Even  with  this  mishap  all  might  have  gone 


"now,  kitty,  do  your  best  ! ''       265 

well  with  Hillson  but  for  liis  hesitation  at  a 
crisis  when  there  was  not  a  second  to  spare. 
He  reached  the  main  trail  so  far  in  advance 
of  his  pursuers  that  he  could  have  secured  a 
good  start,  which,  if  vigorously  used,  would 
have  quickly  taken  him  out  of  the  dangerous 
neighborhood. 

It  was  natural  that  he  should  be  anxious  to 
secure  Kitty,  his  mare,  for  once  in  the  saddle, 
with  a  clear  path  in  front,  he  could  have 
scorned  pursuit  by  the  fleetest  of  the  Indians, 
whose  horses,  if  they  had  any,  were  beyond 
immediate  reach. 

To  his  keen  disappointment,  nothing  was 
seen  of  her  nor  of  Palmer's  horse.  He 
paused  at  the  spot  where  they  had  been 
abandoned,  but  they  were  gone.  He  deemed 
it  probable  that  they  had  not  been  captured 
by  the  vagrants,  since  there  was  no  reason  to 
suspect  any  of  them  had  been  there,  but  all 
were  in  the  vicinity  of  the  cabin. 

It  was  this  hope  that  caused  him  to  hesitate, 
when  he  ought  to  have  turned  northward  and 
lost  not  a  minute  in  leaving  the  section.  The 
horses,  as  he  supposed,  were  wandering  some- 


266  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

wliere  near,  but  wlietlier  to  tlie  right  or  left 
could  only  be  conjectured.  He  decided  to 
make  a  hasty  search  along  the  trail  to  the 
right,  which,  it  will  be  borne  in  mind,  led 
deeper  into  the  mountains,  and  away  from  any 
help  he  might  otherwise  secure. 

He  realized  the  risk  of  this  course,  but  he 
did  not  intend  to  go  far.  Should  the  Black- 
feet  come  up  the  lesser  path,  they  would  have 
every  opportunity  to  cut  off  his  escape  before 
he  could  return. 

He  must  act  promptly,  and,  having  regained 
his  wind  during  the  brief  halt,  he  resumed  his 
run  along  the  mountain  trail,  not  only  i^eering 
ahead  for  his  mare,  but  listening  and  watching 
for  those  whom  he  dreaded  to  see. 

He  had  run  a  short  way  when  he  uttered  a 
suppressed  cry  of  delight,  for  around  the  first 
bend  in  the  path  he  descried  both  horses,  sad- 
dled, bridled,  and  improving  the  opportunity 
by  cropping  the  tufts  of  grass  and  tender 
vegetation  within  reach. 

In  his  joy  he  called  the  name  of  Kitty,  who 
raised  her  head,  and,  with  a  whinny,  trotted 
forward  to  meet  him.     He  paused  long  enough 


*'now,  kitty,  do  your  best!"       267 

to  caress  her  forehead  and  nose,  and  to  examine 
the  trappings,  when  he  placed  his  foot  in  the 
stirrup  and  vaulted  into  the  saddle. 

"Now  for  Fort  Assinaboine,"  he  muttered, 
"and  we'll  soon  rout  these  fellows,  and  teach 
them  better  than  to  interfere  with  Uncle  Sam's 
boys  in  blue." 

It  was  barely  two  hundred  yards  to  the  inter- 
section of  the  trails,  and  the  mare  required  but 
a  few  seconds  to  reach  the  point ;  but  swift  as 
was  her  gait,  the  Blackfeet  beat  her.  Hillson 
decided  to  leave  his  companion's  horse,  in  the 
hope  that  he  might  prove  of  some  use  to  the 
owner,  and  he  therefore  gave  his  whole  atten- 
tion to  the  task  before  him.  He  meant  to  urge 
the  mare  to  the  utmost,  not  sparing  her  until 
the  fort  was  reached. 

Half  the  space  named  was  passed  when  he 
observed  two  Blackfeet  standing  where  the 
paths  met.  One  was  the  Wild  Cat,  whom  he 
recognized  as  he  dodged  behind  shelter.  He, 
too,  had  committed  an  error,  but  just  then 
the  chief  occupation  of  all  parties  concerned 
seemed  to  be  that  of  blundering. 

The  lieutenant,  being  warned  of  his  danger, 


268  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

saw  lie  must  run  tlie  gauntlet  or  turn  about, 
and  fleeing  in  the  opposite  direction,  enter 
a  network  of  perils  with  little  prospect  of 
ultimate  escape,  and  Avith  none  at  all  of 
befriending  those  in  the  cabin.  But  in  this 
instance  there  was  not  a  second's  hesitation 
on  his  part. 

*'  Now,  Kitty,  do  your  best ! " 

He  touched  the  spur  against  her  silken  side, 
and  she  responded  with  a  burst  that  sent  her 
up  the  trail  like  a  whirlwind.  The  officer  sat 
erect  in  the  saddle,  with  the  reins  lying  loose 
on  her  neck,  and  revolver  in  hand  he  charged 
straight  forward,  as  if  resolved  to  run  down 
the  dusky  rogues  that  disputed  his  path. 

Sometimes,  at  the  most  critical  period  in  a 
person's  life,  the  oddest  fancies  assert  them- 
selves. The  moment  he  pricked  the  mare 
with  his  spur,  and  she  responded  so  gamely, 
-he  recalled  that  wild  charge  across  the  grounds 
at  West  Point  which  is  the  last  official 
*^  demonstration,"  as  it  may  be  termed,  of  the 
graduating  class. 

He  was  once  more  among  the  eager  cadets 
as  they  wheeled  their  steeds  in  front  of  the 


*'NOW,  KITTY,  DO   YOUR  BEST  !  "         269 

academy  buildings,  and  heading  toward  the 
hotel,  sent  them  flying  on  a  dead  run  across 
the  level  plain.  The  horses  champed  their 
bits,  and  in  their  excitement  became  almost 
uncontrollable  ;  their  young  riders  knew  that 
half  of  them  were  running  away  and  were  glad 
of  it,  for  it  was  the  one  time  for  animals  as 
well  as  horsemen  to  abandon  themselves  to  the 
thrilling  spell  which  ends  the  four  years' 
arduous  course  at  the  institution. 

Lieutenant  Hillson  lived  it  all  over  again. 
He  heard  the  shouts  of  the  gray-coated 
cadets  as  they  swung  their  sabres  right  and 
left,  slashing  at  imaginary  foes  crouching  on 
the  ground,  and  each  steed  stretched  his  neck 
forward  in  the  fierce  effort  to  out-strip  his 
competitors  ;  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
blanched  faces,  the  bright  eyes,  and  glowing 
countenances  of  the  pretty  maidens  gathered 
on  the  hotel  porch  and  along  the  sides  of  the 
plain  among  the  cannon  to  admire  the  young 
heroes  as  they  thundered  past ;  he  recalled 
the  scared  countenances  of  the  proud  fathers 
and  mothers,  the  half  envious  glances  of  the 
plebes  and  lower  classmen,  whose  blood  tingled 


270  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

witli  the  tliouglit  of  the  coming  June  day  when 
they  should  become  the  mad  body  of  troopers  ; 
it  was  all  there  again — the  calmly  flowing 
Hudson,  the  grand  old  mountains  wreathed  in 
luxuriant  foliage,  through  which  the  Observa- 
tory and  the  ruins  of  Fort  Putnam  frowned, 
the  chapel,  the  library  and  academic  buildings, 
Officers'  Row,  half  hidden  behind  shade  trees, 
the  hotel  in  front,  with  the  gleam  and  sparkle 
of  the  romantic  river  beyond,  Crow's  Nest,  the 
rugged  crags,  the  landscape  and  water,  bathed 
in  the  glory  of  summer — all  these  took  form 
in  the  gathering  twilight  as  Lieutenant  Hillson 
spurred  his  mare  to  a  wild  run  and  charged 
directly  at  the  Blackfeet,  who  eagerly  awaited 
his  coming. 

He  did  not  shout,  though  the  old  thrill  fired 
his  blood,  but  with  pistol  levelled  at  the  spot 
where  he  knew  that  two  at  least  of  his  foes 
were  crouching,  he  let  fly  with  three  chambers, 
the  last  being  discharged  at  the  instant  he  was 
abreast  of  the  spot  and  speeding  by  like  an 
arrow. 

He  did  not  expect  to  hit  anything,  unless  by 
accident,  his  purpose  being   to  confuse    the 


"now,  kitty,  do  your  best  !"       271 

miscreants  and  spoil  tlieir  aim,  when  the  space 
was  so  fearfully  short ;  but  he  knew  they  were 
veterans  at  that  kind  of  work,  and,  though 
they  might  be  bewildered  for  the  moment,  they 
would  rally  quickly. 

Having  discharged  his  three  shots,  Hillson 
adopted  the  Indian  tactics  by  flinging  himself 
forward,  with  his  face  close  to  the  neck  of 
his  mare,  and  as  much  of  his  body  as  pos- 
sible over  her  right  shoulder.  This  minified 
the  human  target,  but  could  not  ensure  his 
safety. 

The  purpose  of  the  young  officer  w^as  accom- 
plished by  his  reckless  charge.  Although  the 
bullets  from  his  revolver  whistled  harmlessly 
among  the  rocks  and  vegetation,  they  confused 
the  Wild  Cat  and  his  companion  for  the 
moment,  and  prevented  their  shooting  him 
when  he  and  his  steed  were  almost  within 
arm's  length. 

As  he  sped  past,  the  Blackfeet  leaped  from 
their  shelter  into  the  open  path  and  brought 
their  guns  to  their  shoulders.  The  mare  was 
going  up  the  trail  like  a  meteor,  with  only  a 
part  of  the  rider's  uniform  visible,  as  he  bent 


272  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

low  and  refrained  from  increasing  his  peril  by 
an  attemi^t  to  look  back. 

The  two  guns  were  discharged  in  rapid  suc- 
cession, and  then,  absurd  as  the  act  appeared, 
both  warriors  broke  into  a  run  after  the  flying 
fugitive. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

THE  DEATH  OF  KITTY. 

THE  Wild  Cat  was  an  excellent  marksman, 
and  fully  conscious  that  the  youth  must 
not  escape,  though  the  motion  of  the  mare  and 
the  small  portion  of  his  body  visible  rendered 
the  target  a  poor  one.  Had  he  been  erect  in 
the  saddle  he  must  of  a  surety  have  been  pierced 
by  the  well-aimed  bullet.  As  it  was,  he  felt  a 
stream  of  fire  run  along  his  left  thigh,  and  he 
clapped  his  hand  thither  to  learn  the  extent  of 
the  wound. 

The  ball  had  ploughed  across  the  limb,  cut- 
ting a  rent  of  several  inches  in  the  trousers  and 
slightly  abrading  the  skin,  but  not  to  the 
extent  of  drawing  blood.  He  could  not  have 
had  a  closer  call. 

The  second  Blackfoot  also  fired,  but  his 
weapon  was  not  so  well  directed,  and,  instead 
of  striking  the  rider,  buried  itself  in  his  steed. 

Hillson  felt  the  mare's  spasmodic  shudder 

18  273 


274  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

under  the  saddle  and  knew  she  was  hit  hard. 
He  could  not  tell  how  hard,  but,  because  she 
continued  her  fierce  gallop,  he  hoped  the 
wound  was  not  serious.  He  gradually  shifted 
round  in  the  saddle  again,  but  continued  to 
lean  forward,  with  his  head  bent  low,  until  he 
could  look  back  at  his  pursuers. 

When  he  saw  them  speeding  after  him  on 
foot  he  would  have  smiled  but  for  his  solici- 
tude about  Kitty.  He  assumed  the  upright 
posture,  for  by  keeping  watch  of  the  red  men 
he  could  tell  when  either  was  making  ready  to 
fire,  and  it  was  easy  to  fling  his  body  forward 
again.  Furthermore,  the  distance  between 
them  was  increasing  fast,  and  he  doubted 
whether  their  weapons  were  loaded,  since,  if 
they  were  of  the  Sharpe  pattern  (as  was  the 
fact),  no  opportunity  for  recharging  them  had 
been  given. 

Kitty  was  swiftly  nearing  the  turn  in  the 
trail  from  which  the  buck  had  taken  his  last 
leap,  and  where  Lieutenant  Palmer  came  so 
nigh  being  winged  by  the  Wild  Cat,  when  her 
rider  was  startled  by  her  action.  She  lurched 
to  the  very  edge  of  the  path  on  the  left,  missing 


THE  DEATH   OF  KITTY.  275 

going  over  by  a  hair  ;  then  she  swung  back 
again,  and  with  a  moan  reeled  to  the  right  and 
left  like  a  drunken  person.  At  the  same 
moment  several  warm  crimson  flecks  from  her 
nostrils  were  sprinkled  over  the  knees  of  the 
rider. 

She  was  mortally  wounded  and  could  not 
last  a  minute  longer,  but  she  was  game 
to  the  end.  She  knew  she  was  bearing  her 
master  from  danger,  and  she  gave  him  the  last 
ounce  of  strength.  She  was  still  on  a  furious 
run,  and  for  a  moment  staggered,  as  if  about 
to  go  down,  but  shaking  herself  together, 
pointed  her  nose  up  the  trail,  and  bent  every 
energy  toward  reaching  the  bend,  now  but  a 
few  bounds  distant. 

Few  forms  of  affection  are  stronger  than 
that  of  a  man  for  his  intelligent  and  faith- 
ful horse  who  shares  his  perils  and  priva- 
tions with  him.  Lieutenant  Hillson  had 
owned  his  mare  for  a  couple  of  years,  and 
no  deeper  pang  ever  pierced  his  heart  than 
when  he  saw  her  stagger,  and  knew  she  was 
doomed. 

'^  Poor  Kitty  !  "  he  murmured,  as  tears  filled 


276      THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

liis  eyes,  and  lie  forgot  his  danger  ;  **  I  would 
give  my  right  hand  to  save  you,  for  a  nobler 
creature  never  lived,  and  you  are  dying 
for  me." 

Could  it  be  that  the  brute,  seeing  her  min- 
utes were  numbered,  felt  that  she  had  but  to 
carry  him  around  that  bend  in  the  path  to  save 
him  ?  If  she  could  dash  beyond  view  of  the 
Blackfeet  without  betraying  her  mortal  hurt 
they  would  not  keep  up  a  hopeless  pursuit, 
since,  by  the  time  they  regained  sight  of  the 
fugitive,  he  ought  to  be  beyond  reach  of  their 
guns. 

In  all  probability  the  pursuers,  already  far 
to  the  rear,  would  stop  on  the  disappearance 
of  the  horse  and  rider  and  return  to  their 
allies  near  the  cabin. 

The  lieutenant  realized  this,  and  nothing 
could  shake  his  belief  that  the  last  ambition 
of  Kitty  was  to  accomplish  the  task  ;  but  it 
was  impossible.  She  labored  harder  than  pen 
can  tell,  but  at  the  moment  of  reaching  the 
spot  and  about  to  make  the  turn,  she  sank  so 
suddenly  that  only  by  great  dexterity  did  he 
escape  being  caught.     He  had  barely  time  to 


THE  DEATH  OF  KITTT.  277 

slip  liis  feet  from  the  stirrui^s  and  leap  off  on 
the  opposite  side,  when  she  fell  so  near  the 
cliff  that  a  few  inches  more  would  have  carried 
her  over. 

It  was  her  dying  act  indeed,  for,  with  a 
moan  human  in  its  depth,  it  all  ended.  With 
his  heart  wrung  by  grief  at  his  great  loss 
and  the  touching  devotion  of  the  animal,  he 
dropped  on  his  face  to  shelter  himself  behind 
her  body,  and  awaited  the  attack  of  his 
enemies. 

They  were  so  far  away  that  he  seized  the 
chance  to  fill  the  empty  chambers  of  his  re- 
volver. 

''Ah!  if  I  had  brought  my  rifle,"  he  mur- 
mured, glancing  down  the  trail,  "I  could 
easily  pick  off  both  of  them." 

In  the  chase  the  Wild  Cat  had  placed  him- 
self several  paces  in  advance  of  his  companion, 
who  was  also  running  hard.  On  seeing  the 
mare  fall  the  leader  paused  and  waited  for  the 
other  to  join  him.  They  stood  a  minute,  as  if 
considering  the  next  step  to  take;  but  they 
could  not  have  failed  to  see  that  the  officer 
was  without  any  rifle,  and  was  therefore  pow- 


278  THE  PATH  IIT  THE  EAVINE. 

erless  to  injure  tliein  so  long  as  tliey  kept 
their  distance. 

But  the  intervening  space  was  within  easy 
rifle  range,  and  while  halting  the  two  pro- 
ceeded to  reload  their  weapons  that  were  dis- 
charged just  previous  to  the  opening  of  the 
race.  No  wonder  that  Lieutenant  Hillson 
regretted  so  keenly  that  he  had  left  his  Win- 
chester behind  in  the  hurry  of  his  flight  from 
the  cabin,  for  no  better  chance  could  have 
offered  for  checking  effectively  the  assault  of 
his  enemies  in  fair  sight  before  him,  and  who 
would  not  have  dared  to  advance  another  step. 

The  afternoon  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and 
darkness  would  soon  wrap  mountain  and 
gorge  in  shadow.  If  his  assailants  could  be 
stood  off  until  night  he  could  stealthily  with- 
draw and  reach  the  more  open  country  to  the 
northward.  There  he  might  be  able  to  obtain 
another  horse  from  some  of  the  friendly  In- 
dians, or,  failing  in  that,  press  on  to  Fort 
Assinaboine  for  help. 

Had  time  been  at  command  the  Wild  Cat 
doubtless  Avould  have  seized  the  animal  of 
Lieutenant  Palmer ;    but,  to  return  for  him 


THE  DEATH   OF   KITTY.  279 

now  could  do  no  good.  Tliougli  one  only  of 
the  Blackfeet  started  on  tlie  errand,  Hillson 
was  not  likely  to  stay  where  he  was  until  his 
return,  and  the  other  horse  therefore  could  be 
of  no  help  under  the  circumstances.  He  was 
theirs  already,  and  could  be  appropriated  at 
their  leisure. 

Hillson' s  thoughts  were  busy,  and  more 
than  one  way  out  of  his  perilous  situation 
suggested  itself.  He  might  leap  to  his  feet 
and  start  on  a  run  down  the  trail,  but  the  act 
must  be  instantly  perceived  by  his  enemies, 
who  were  fleeter  of  foot  than  he,  and  would  be 
at  the  turn  before  he  could  place  himself 
beyond  reach  of  their  guns,  whereas,  if  they 
waited  until  night  was  fully  come,  the  chance 
of  such  a  piece  of  strategy  would  be  immeasur- 
ably increased. 

What  he  feared  was  that  the  Wild  Cat  and 
his  companion  would  climb  the  mountain  side, 
and,  making  their  way  along  the  precipitous 
face,  get  behind  him.  This  being  done,  they 
could  readily  signal  to  the  other  warriors  and 
effectually  shut  off  all  escape  on  his  part. 
The  two  were  still  standing  in  the  middle  of 


.  280  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAYIKE. 

the  trail,  after  reloading  their  guns,  as  though 
undecided  upon  the  course  to  follow ;  but, 
while  watching  them,  Hillson  perceived  that 
they  had  reached  a  decision,  and  were  coming 
directly  up  the  trail  toward  him. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

ALONG  THE  MOUNTAIN-SIDE. 

LIEUTENANT  HILLSOjST  crouclied  beliind 
1  the  body  of  his  mare  with  the  coolness  of 
a  veteran  campaigner  of  the  frontier.  He  was 
at  bay,  and  meant  to  give  these  dnsky  mis- 
creants the  hottest  kind  of  reception. 

It  is  curious  how,  at  the  most  critical  times, 
when  it  would  seem  that  the  mind  has  no 
room  for  any  thoughts  except  those  bearing 
directly  upon  the  occasion,  little  incidents  will 
force  themselves  upon  one's  consciousness. 
At  the  moment  of  getting  down  behind  the 
strange  rampart,  he  recalled  the  many  times 
he  had  done  the  same  when  a  cadet  at  West 
Point,  undergoing  his  severe  cavalry  drill  in 
the  riding  academy. 

This  peculiar  exercise  was  not  a  feature  at 
that  institution  until  1889,  but  the  young  men 
were  allowed  to  ride  "at  will,"  as  the  expres- 
sion goes.     At  such  times  Hillson  and  a  num- 

281 


282      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

ber  of  Ms  classmates  compelled  their  horses  to 
lie  down  while  they  tired  their  revolvers  over 
them.  Sometimes  the  animals  were  docile, 
and  sometimes  they  took  it  into  their  heads  to 
''kick"  with  a  vigor  that  made  things  lively 
for  a  time. 

All  this  came  back  to  the  young  officer  at 
this  critical  period  in  his  career,  and  even 
caused  him  to  smile  at  the  recollection  of 
some  of  the  ludicrous  scenes  in  which  he  had 
taken  part ;  but  the  memories  of  those  halcyon 
days  could  not  of  necessity  occupy  more  than 
a  few  minutes  of  his  time. 

The  Blackfeet  had  not  yet  appeared  when  it 
occurred  to  Hillson  that  he  had  not  chosen  the 
best  position  for  defence.  The  carcass  of 
Kitty  afforded  at  best  only  a  poor  protection 
against  the  bullets  of  his  enemies.  Such  ram- 
parts sometimes  do  good  service  on  the  plains, 
when  those  assailed  are  provided  with  Win- 
chesters or  guns  possessing  long  range,  and 
they  are  able  to  stand  off  their  foes  by  keeping 
them  at  a  distance,  but  at  close  range  the  rifle- 
balls  are  likely  to  bore  their  way  through  the 
breastwork  and  reach  the  men  behind  it. 


ALONG  THE  MOUNTAIN-SIDE.  283 

"Poor  Kitty,"  lie  murmured,  "no  one  can 
serve  a  master  better  than  you  served  me,  for 
you  have  given  your  life,  and  no  one  can  do 
more,  but  your  service  for  me  is  ended." 

It  was  this  fact  which  caused  the  officer  to 
decide  that  it  was  unwise  to  rely  upon  the 
body  of  his  faithful  mare  as  a  safeguard  against 
the  bullets  of  his  enemies.  He  believed  that 
the  Blackfeet  would  force  a  fight  at  close 
quarters,  in  which  event,  if  unable  to  get  a 
fair  sight  of  him,  they  would  drive  their  bul- 
lets through  the  warm  carcass  and  reach  him 
as  he  crouched  behind  it. 

"Good-by,  once  more,"  he  muttered,  as  he 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  ran  to  the  rocks  project- 
ing from  the  mountain-side.  Behind  these  he 
took  refuge,  with  the  determination  that  the 
contest  should  be  fought  to  the  end  from  be- 
hind this  new  and  improved  defence. 

"  J^Tone  of  the  bullets  can  pierce  this  stone," 
he  reflected,  as  he  hastily  took  position  behind 
it ;  "it  would  be  safe  against  a  bombardment 
of  artillery." 

It  was  a  wise  move  on  the  part  of  the  youth 
in  more  than  one  respect.    He  could  peer  out 


284      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE.  "^ 

and  watcli  tlie  movements  of  his  enemies 
without  exposing  more  than  a  part  of  his  head 
to  their  missiles.  Since  his  left  hand  was  next 
to  the  mountain,  his  right  was  in  proper  po- 
sition to  use  to  the  best  advantage  whenever 
the  vagrants  attempted  a  move  against  him. 

Many  a  frontiersman,  in  a  similar  situation, 
has  been  able  to  hold  an  entire  war  party  of 
Indians  at  bay.  All  that  was  needed  was 
vigilance  on  his  part,  for  no  people  are  quicker 
to  learn  the  danger  to  which  they  are  exposed 
than  the  dusky  maurauders,  who  prefer  a 
light  in  which  the  advantages  are  overwhelm- 
ingly on  their  side. 

The  lieutenant's  experience  in  frontier  cam- 
paigning had  taught  him  the  necessity  of  seiz- 
ing his  opportunities  at  once.  The  change 
decided  upon  was  effected  so  quickly  that 
before  the  warriors  could  sight  their  pieces  he 
was  beyond  reach.  They  were  puzzled  for  the 
moment  by  the  act,  which  clearly  gave  him 
great  benefit,  since  they  might  maintain  a 
fusillade  indefinitely  without  harming  him,  to 
accomplish  which  they  must  necessarily  bring 
themselves  within  range  of  his  small  weapon. 


ALONG  THE  MOUNTAIN-SIDE.  285 

The  Wild  Cat,  however,  decided  to  try  it. 
Standing  less  than  a  hundred  yards  away,  he 
brought  his  gun  to  his  shoulder,  and,  sighting 
at  the  bit  of  officer's  kepi,  or  forage  cap,  in 
view,  he  pulled  the  trigger. 

An  instant  previous  the  lieutenant  drew 
back.  It  was  fortunate  he  was  so  prompt,  for 
the  bullet  was  well  aimed  and  chipped  off  a 
bit  of  stone  in  front  of  his  eyes.  He  thrust 
forward  his  head  again,  but  withdrew  it  with 
the  same  celerity  when  he  perceived  that  the 
second  Indian  had  raised  his  weapon,  while  the 
leader  proceeded  to  place  another  cartridge  in 
his  own  gun. 

The  lieutenant  waited  a  minute,  and  hearing 
no  report  cautiously  peeped  out.  The  warrior 
had  lowered  his  weapon  and  was  watching  for 
him  to  show  himself.  Before  he  could  fire 
Hillson  pointed  his  pistol  at  the  couple  and 
discharged  three  chambers.  He  had  no  expec- 
tation of  reaching  either  of  them  at  that  dis- 
tance, and  he  was  not  disappointed,  but  one  of 
the  bullets,  impinging  against  a  rock,  glanced 
onward,  its  form  so  twisted  and  flattened  by 
the  contact  that  it  gave  out  an  odd  whistling 


286  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

noise  quite  trying  to  one's  nerves  when  in  its 
path. 

Rather  curiously  the  two  warriors  retreated 
several  paces,  as  if  startled  by  the  singing  ball, 
but  they  were  too  wise  to  be  scared  off  by  so 
trifling  an  occurrence. 

Every  minute  counted.  Night  was  closing 
in  so  rapidly  that  already  the  figures  of  the 
Blackf eet  assumed  a  shadowy  appearance,  and 
must  soon  become  indistinct,  if  they  main- 
tained their  position.  Hillson  could  not  af- 
ford to  wait  much  longer  before  resorting  to 
his  last  attempt  to  extricate  himself  from  his 
perilous  position. 

It  was  evident  that  the  discharge  of  the 
revolver  had  produced  a  deterrent  effect  on 
the  Blackfeet.  Though  they  possessed  supe- 
rior weai^ons,  they  were  deprived  of  their  full 
advantage.  To  strike  the  youth  they  must 
come  within  reach  of  his  revolver,  which  he 
was  so  ready  to  use  the  instant  a  chance  pre- 
sented itself.  But  they  would  not  have  been 
worthy  members  of  the  American  race  had 
they  retired  before  such  difficulties.  They  had 
allies  within  call,  and  there  were  means  at 


ALONG  THE  MOUNTAIN-SIDE.  287 

tlieir  command  which  they  had  reason  to  be- 
lieve were  unsuspected  by  the  white  man. 

The  latter  kept  close  watch,  believing  they 
would  attempt  some  trick  before  long,  and 
that  the  only  chance  for  him  was  to  penetrate 
their  purpose  before  they  could  carry  it  out. 
To  his  surprise  he  abruptly  discovered  that, 
instead  of  two  warriors,  there  was  only  one  in 
sight.  The  other  had  vanished  unaccountably, 
and  he  had  no  possible  way  of  learning  whither 
he  went. 

It  might  be  he  had  stolen  down  the  trail  to 
bring  more  of  his  people  to  the  spot,  travelling 
with  such  swiftness  that  he  disappeared  in  the 
gloom  before  his  flight  was  noticed,  but  Hill- 
son  believed  he  was  about  setting  on  foot  the 
scheme  he  dreaded — that  of  noiselessly  climb- 
ing the  mountain  side  with  the  purpose  of 
getting  behind  him  and  shutting  off  his  flight. 

''If  that's  his  plan,  this  is  no  place  for 
me,"  was  his  conclusion,  as  he  withdrew  his 
head  for  a  few  moments;  "well,  that  is 
strange ! " 

The  exclamation  was  uttered  when  he  peeped 
out  again  and  failed  to  see  the  other  Indian. 


288  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

Both  had  passed  out  of  sight  like  dissolving 
figures  of  vajpor. 

The  fact  confirmed  his  suspicions.  He 
instantly  fired  one  barrel  of  his  pistol  toward 
the  point  where  they  were  last  seen,  his  ob- 
ject being  to  convince  them  he  was  still  at 
his  post  and  on  the  alert.  Then  he  started 
down  the  slope  in  the  direction  of  the  fort, 
determined  that,  if  they  were  attempting  to 
cut  him  off,  they  should  find  the  task  more 
difficult  than  they  anticipated. 

Had  he  continued  his  flight  he  would  have 
eluded  his  enemies  easily,  for  remarkable  as 
was  their  skill  in  making  their  way  over  pre- 
cipitous ground,  it  could  not  equal  his  speed 
along  the  comparatively  level  mountain  trail 
below,  but,  like  his  army  friends,  he  was 
actuated  by  a  chivalry  which  led  him  always 
to  place  the  welfare  of  others  before  his  own. 

He  was  convinced  that  the  loss  of  his  mare 
had  destroyed  the  scheme  he  had  in  mind 
when  he  fled  in  such  hot  haste  from  the  cabin. 
Mounted  on  his  fleet  animal  he  would  have 
reached  the  fort  before  midnight,  while  he 
would  be  unable  to  cover  the  distance  on  foot 


ALONG  THE  MOUNTAIN-SIDE.  289 

before  the  following  day  was  well  advanced. 
At  the  best,  help  could  not  reach  his  friends 
before  afternoon.  It  seemed  to  him,  there- 
fore, a  waste  of  effort  to  i:)ush  on  alone,  when 
by  remaining  in  the  neighborhood  he  might  be 
able  to  give  aid  to  his  friends. 

Subsequent  events  proved  that  Lieutenant 
Hillson  committed  a  grave  mistake  in  acting 
upon  this  theory,  for  had  he  pressed  toward 
the  fort  he  could  have  reached  a  point  of  com- 
parative safety  in  the  course  of  a  couple  of 
hours.  Not  only  that,  but  three  other  mem- 
bers of  his  command,  w^ho  were  out  on  a  hunt, 
had  gone  into  camp  where  he  was  almost 
certain  of  coming  u.pon  them.  Of  this,  how- 
ever, he  could  have  no  knowledge ;  but  his 
absence  would  have  made  the  Wild  Cat  fear 
the  authorities  were  about  to  learn  the  truth, 
and  he  was  sure  to  pause  before  inviting  their 
certain  vengeance. 

From  this  it  is  also  manifest  that,  although 
our  friends  had  performed  more  than  one 
brilliant  deed,  there  were  other  errors  made. 
Had  Mr.  Rainsford  and  Lieutenant  Palmer 
been  content  to  stay  in  the  cabin,  they  could 

19 


290  THE  PATH   IN  THE  RAVINE. 

have  maintained  themselves  against  their  as- 
sailants for  twenty-four  hours  at  least,  while 
the  absence  of  one  of  them,  as  we  have  ex- 
plained, would  have  prevented  the  Wild  Ca.t 
from  pressing  the  siege  further  than  that,  if, 
indeed,  he  dared  to  maintain  it  that  long. 

The  clever  exploit  of  Hillson  gave  the  whites 
an  immeasurable  advantage  which  should  have 
been  pushed  vigorously  to  the  end,  by  the 
continued  flight  of  the  lieutenant,  while  the 
others  should  have  stayed  in  the  cabin  and 
awaited  the  development  of  events.  Instead 
of  that,  they  ventured  out,  and  both,  including 
little  Bessie,  were  made  captives  by  the  va- 
grants whom  they  were  trying  to  avoid. 

Hillson  decided  to  hasten  down  the  slope 
until  beyond  the  point  where  the  Blackfeet 
were  likely  to  take  the  trail,  and  then  wait 
in  the  hope  that  some  way  would  open  for 
helping  his  friends. 

It  was  perhaps  an  eighth  of  a  mile  from  the 
abrupt  turn  in  the  path,  which  had  been  the 
scene  of  so  many  stirring  incidents,  that  he 
came  to  a  stop  under  the  shelter  of  some  of 
the  rocks  which  were  so  abundant  everywhere, 


ALONG  THE   MOUNTAIN-SIDE.  291 

feeling  little  fear  of  being  noticed  by  anyone 
in  passing,  unless  special  attention  drew  liim 
to  the  spot. 

*'I  can  afford  to  wait  a  while,  and,  if  those 
fellows  do  not  show  up,  it  will  be  safe  to  con- 
clude they  have  gone  back  to  rejoin  the  rest, 
and  I  shall  have  nothing  to  fear  if  I " 

The  thought  had  hardly  shaped  itself  when 
he  was  startled  by  a  rattling  on  the  mountain- 
side above  his  head.  The  noise  was  such  as 
might  have  been  made  by  the  passage  of  an 
animal,  or  possibly  the  accidental  loosening  of 
some  stone.  That  the  latter  was  the  cause  was 
proven  the  next  minute,  when  a  bit  of  rock 
the  size  of  his  hand  shot  over  his  head,  and, 
striking  the  ground  with  considerable  force, 
bounded  across  the  ledge  into  the  gorge 
beyond. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

UP  THE  TKAIL. 

HILLSON  just  then  was  standing  so  close 
to  the  mass  of  rocks  that  the  missile 
cleared  his  crown  by  several  feet,  though  it 
might  have  struck  him  had  he  been  walking. 
The  incident  was  something  to  cause  misgiv- 
ing, but  it  had  hardly  taken  place  when  he 
heard  voices  so  near  that  he  dared  not  move. 
The  words  were  in  the  Blackfeet  lingo,  so  that 
their  meaning  was  unknown,  but  he  correctly 
guessed  the  significance  of  the  occurrence. 

The  Wild  Cat  and  his  companion  had  done' 
what  he  dreaded.  They  had  climbed  the 
mountain-side  above  the  trail,  and,  by  a  cir- 
cuitous and  laborious  course,  returned  to  the 
path,  considerably  beyond  the  point  where  for 
a  time  he  held  them  at  bay  with  his  revolver. 

The  most  surprising  fact  about  this  piece  of 
strategy  was  that  they  went  so  far  below  the 
turn  before  coming  back  to  the  trail.     Why 

S92 


UP  THE  TEAIL.  293 

they  did  this  surpassed  the  conjecture  of  the 
lieutenant,  but  the  result  j)laced  him  in  a  more 
delicately  dangerous  situation  than  ever. 

Within  thirty  seconds  of  the  fall  of  the  stone 
the  Wild  Cat  imitated  it,  excejDt  that  he  halted 
in  the  trail  instead  of  bounding  over  into  the 
ravine,  but  it  gave  the  lieutenant  a  shock 
when  the  shadowy  figure  of  one  of  the  warriors 
passed  lightly  over  his  head,  immediately  fol- 
lowed by  the  other.  It  was  an  experience  that 
comes  to  few  people,  though  it  is  not  strictly 
correct  to  say  that  the  Blackfeet  leaped 
directly  over  his  head ;  they  were  slightly  to 
the  left — that  is,  a  little  nearer  the  angle  in 
the  trail  than  he  stood. 

His  position  placed  his  back  against  the  flat 
face  of  the  rock,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  he 
pressed  it  hard  enough  to  cause  a  goodly  in- 
dentation. He  would  have  been  glad  to  push 
himself  out  of  sight  within  its  solid  substance. 

It  was  fully  night,  and  there  was  no  moon. 
He  was  enclosed  in  such  deep  shadow  that  he 
was  hopeful  of  not  being  seen  unless  the  war- 
riors chanced  to  come  nearer,  but  it  was  neces- 
sary to  remain  silent  and  motionless. 


294      THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  Lieutenant 
Hillson  liad  any  thought  of  submitting  in  the 
event  of  detection.  The  instant  his  presence 
became  known  the  revolver  would  be  called 
into  play,  and  he  was  sure  to  give  a  good 
account  of  himself.  It  may  as  well  be  ad- 
mitted that  he  was  on  the  point  several  times 
of  opening  the  fight ;  for,  if  anxious  to  serve 
his  friends,  how  better  could  he  do  so  than  by 
the  extinguishment  of  the  leader  and  one  of 
the  principal  warriors  1 

Could  he  have  been  certain  of  making  his 
way  up  the  trail  to  where  he  had  left  the  horse 
of  his  friend,  and  of  finding  the  steed  there, 
Hillson  would  have  opened  the  struggle  in 
hurricane  stjde  and  ended  it  in  a  twinkling, 
but  to  do  that  was  to  bank  upon  too  small  a 
capital,  so  to  speak,  and,  fortunately  for  him- 
self, he  decided  to  preserve  an  armed  neutrality 
as  long  as  possible. 

The  Blackfeet  stood  for  several  minutes  talk- 
ing in  their  characteristic  fashion,  and  then  one 
of  them — not  the  Wild  Cat — started  on  a  lope 
up  the  trail.  The  leader  remained  where  he 
assumed  position  after  vaulting  over  the  lieu- 


UP  THE  TRAIL.  295 

tenant's  head,  as  if  awaiting  tlie  return  of  the 
other,  or  some  message  from  him. 

The  dim  figure  was  outlined  so  clearly  in  the 
gloom  that  Hillson  could  tell  when  his  face, 
his  side,  or  his  back  was  turned  toward  him, 
and  it  need  not  be  said  that  he  watched  him 
with  intense  attention.  The  moment  his  com- 
panion left  him  the  Wild  Cat  faced  that  w^ay, 
and  gazed  after  him  for  a  few  moments  after 
he  vanished  in  the  darkness.  Then  he  shifted 
about  so  as  to  look  down  the  trail  in  the  other 
direction. 

The  stillness  was  so  absolute  that  the  youth 
heard  the  soft  rustling  of  his  moccasons  as  he 
gently  moved  them  over  the  ground.  Then  he 
coughed  slightly  and  cleared  his  throat,  just 
like  a  white  man,  and  taking  a  couple  of  steps, 
stopped  again,  his  black  eyes  doubtless  search- 
ing the  gloom,  while  he  listened  for  sounds 
that  would  tell  him  of  the  flight  of  the  officer 
who  had  held  him  and  his  associate  at  bay 
with  but  a  single  small  fire-arm. 

The  change  of  position  brought  the  Wild 
Cat  almost  opposite  Hillson,  who  was  sure 
detection  could  not  be  postponed  many  seconds 


296  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVINE. 

longer.  He  noted  the  untidy  blanket  secured 
around  the  shoulders  of  the  warrior,  his  long, 
coarse  hair,  the  lower  part  of  his  leggings,  and 
the  rifle  held  in  his  right  hand.  Once,  when 
he  made  a  partial  turn  of  his  head,  the  officer 
fancied  he  detected  the  Roman  nose  and  re* 
treating  chin,  though  the  darkness  did  not 
permit  a  sight  of  the  paint,  and  it  is  doubtful 
whether  the  features  were  seen  at  all. 

Justice  to  Lieutenant  Hillson  compels  us  to 
say  he  was  troubled  by  nothing  in  the  way  of 
fear.  He  had  made  a  prisoner  of  this  individ- 
ual earlier  in  the  day,  and  there  was  no  cause 
to  hold  him  in  dread  in  the  present  turn  of 
affairs. 

In  fact  the  young  officer  was  seriously  con- 
sidering the  question  of  taking  him  captive 
again.  He  had  no  doubt  of  his  ability  to  do 
so,  and  with  the  Wild  Cat  held  as  a  hostage, 
to  be  given  in  exchange  for  the  safety  of  those 
within  the  cabin,  it  may  be  said  that  Hillson 
would  have  commanded  the  situation. 

The  idea  was  excellent,  but  there  were  a 
number  of  practical  difficulties  in  the  way 
which  might  well  cause  hesitation.     He  was 


UP  THE  TRAIL.  297 

afraid  the  prisoner  would  prove  hard  to  handle, 
and  when  the  moment  came  to  deliver  him 
into  the  custody  of  his  people,  Hillson  was 
likely  to  find  himself  obliged  to  keep  him 
company.  In  other  words,  being  without  a 
secure  place  in  which  to  hold  him,  pending 
negotiations,  the  result  was  likely  to  be  more 
disastrous  to  the  origin^or  of  the  enterprise 
than  to  anyone  else  concerned. 

The  lieutenant  had  not  yet  reached  a  deci- 
sion when  a  cry  like  the  dismal  hoot  of  an 
owl  came  from  some  point  above,  and  the 
Wild  Cat,  with  an  exclamation,  broke  into  a 
trot  up  the  path,  almost  instantly  disappear- 
ing in  the  gloom.  What  the  exclamation 
meant  the  only  listener  was  unable  to  declare, 
but  he  was  quite  sure  its  English  equivalent 
was  an  expression  of  disgust  and  anger. 

"He  sent  the  warrior  to  the  bend  to  see 
whether  I  was  there  ;  finding  I  am  not,  he  has 
signalled  the  fact  to  his  leader,  who  sees  no 
call  to  linger  in  this  vicinity." 

It  would  seem  that  the  Wild  Cat  could  not 
avoid  the  conclusion  that  Hillson  had  effected 
his  escape  and  was  beyond  reach,  and  such 


298  THE  PATH  IN  THE  KAVIN"E. 

being  the  case,  lie  would  make  no  further 
attempt  to  overhaul  him,  accepting  what  had 
been  hitherto  done  as  a  failure  in  every  sense 
of  the  word. 

*'His  belief  that  I  am  on  my  way  to  Fort 
Assinaboine,"  thought  the  lieutenant,  *'is  as 
effective  for  present  purposes  as  though  I 
were.  It  secures  me  against  officious  curiosity 
as  long  as  I  use  prudence,  and  increases  my 
prospect  of  doing  something  for  my  friends 
below." 

This  theory  sounded  logical,  but  unfortu- 
nately the  premises  were  wrong.  It  was  un- 
reasonable to  suppose  that  he  could  establish 
any  understanding  with  those  in  the  cabin 
without  betraying  himself  to  their  enemies. 
Furthermore,  as  the  reader  knows,  there  was 
no  one  in  the  dwelling,  and  consequently  Lieu- 
tenant Hillson  was  all  at  sea. 

It  was  not  likely  that  the  Wild  Cat  or  his 
companion  would  stay  at  the  bend,  but  he 
waited  a  considerable  time  before  venturing 
in  that  direction,  peering  as  best  he  could  into 
the  gloom,  and  often  pausing  to  listen  for 
the  sounds  which  in  the  profound  stillness 


UP  THE  TRAIL.  299 

could  be  heard  at  a  much  greater  distance  than 
would  be  supposed. 

"I  don't  think  they  will  wait  there,  when 
they  must  know  I  would  be  on  the  watch  for 
them " 

The  thought  had  hardly  taken  shape  in  his 
mind  when  he  suddenly  checked  himself, 
convinced  that  he  had  escaped,  by  the  narrow- 
est conceivable  chance,  walking  into  a  trap 
that  had  been  set  for  him. 

Close  against  the  mountain  wall  along  which 
he  was  making  his  cautious  advance,  he  de- 
tected the  outlines  of  a  man,  evidently  the 
Wild  Cat  or  his  comrade.  Whichever  it  might 
be,  the  other  was  sure  to  be  at  hand  ready  and 
eager  to  take  part  in  assailing  him. 

The  officer  hesitated  for  a  minute  or  two  as 
to  the  best  course  he  should  take.  It  would 
seem  that  really  there  was  but  the  one  thing 
to  do,  and  that  was  to  withdraw  without  an 
instant's  delay.  He  had  striven  hard  and 
shown  great  cleverness  in  "holding off"  his 
enemies— that  is,  he  had  prevented  anything 
in  the  nature  of  a  hand-to-hand  encounter 
between  them  and    himself.    To    advance  at 


300  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

this  time  was  to  invite  tlie  very  thing  which 
he  had  striven  with  such  success  to  avoid. 

But  a  daring  project  had  taken  shape  in 
the  brain  of  the  lieutenant,  being  nothing  less 
than  an  attempt  to  bring  down  both  of  his  foes, 
and  thus  clear  his  path  in  the  most  effectual 
manner  of  the  vagrants  whose  taking  off  would 
be  a  blessing  in  every  sense. 

His  plan  was  to  steal  forward  as  though  he 
did  not  see  the  motionless  figure  so  close  to 
the  mountain  wall.  The  Indian  would  natur- 
ally wait  until  he  was  within  certain  reach 
before  bringing  him  down.  Hillson,  having 
thrown  him  off  his  guard,  would  be  on  the 
watch  for  such  demonstration,  and  would  an- 
ticipate it  by  making  a  lightning-like  assault 
himself. 

It  will  be  understood  that  the  point  of  this 
strategy  was  that  it  would  bring  the  lieutenant 
so  near  that  when  he  raised  his  revolver  and 
fired  there  would  be  no  possibility  of  missing. 
In  other  words,  it  would  give  him  the  drop  on 
the  other  fellow. 

But  the  imminent  peril  lay  in  the  probabil- 
ity that  the  Blackfoot  would  not  await  the 


UP  THE  TRAIL.  301 

officer's  convenience  before  opening  his  bat- 
teries.    As  likelv  as  not  he  would  start  thino-s 

V  O 

moving  before  Hillson  was  ready.  The  gloom 
would  permit  him  to  move  his  arms  without 
being  perceived  in  time  to  be  thwarted. 

All  this  was  on  the  theory  that  the  In- 
dian was  deceived  by  the  pretence  of  the 
officer ;  but  suppose,  what  was  likely,  the 
shrewd  scamp  penetrated  his  design,  what 
then? 

Nevertheless,  Lieutenant  Hillson  determined 
to  make  the  rash  attempt.  Revolver  in  hand, 
he  moved  stealthily  forward  until  close  upon 
his  foe,  and  about  ready  for  the  daring  attempt, 
when  he  once  more  stopped,  and  with  a  smile 
gave  expression  to  the  exclamation  : 

*^Well,  I'll  be  hanged  !  " 

It  was  neither  the  Wild  Cat  nor  his  com- 
panion, but  a  portion  of  the  rocks  themselves, 
which  under  his  active  imagination  had  taken 
upon  itself  the  form  of  an  Indian  warrior 
waiting  for  him  to  come  within  reach  of  his 
vengeance. 

Encouraged  by  the  circumstance,  Hillson 
pushed  forward  to  the  spot  with  less  hesi- 


302  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE.  * 

tation  than  he  had  yet  shown,  and  arrived 
without  seeing  or  hearing  anything  of  the 
red  men. 

It  had  been  his  intention  to  remove  the  sad- 
dle and  bridle  from  the  body  of  Kitty  and  to 
hide  them  among  the  rocks  until  he  could  take 
them  away.  The  hurry  of  his  flight  had  pre- 
vented his  doing  this  before. 

But  on  searching  for  the  remains  of  the  ani- 
mal they  could  not  be  found.  Carcass  as  well 
as  trappings  were  gone,  and  it  was  easy  to 
guess  the  explanation. 

The  Wild  Cat  had  appropriated  the  latter, 
after  which,  with  little  effort,  he  rolled  the 
body  over  the  precipice  to  follow  that  of  the 
buck.  Hillson  remembered  hearing  a  peculiar 
rustling  and  crashing  which  could  have  been 
well  caused  by  such  a  proceeding  on  the  part 
of  the  dusky  miscreant. 

The  lieutenant  approached  the  edge  of  the 
ravine  and  looked  longingly  down  in  the 
gloom.  The  darkness  was  too  deep  to  permit 
him  to  distinguish  anything,  and  as  he  turned 
away  he  heaved  a  sigh  to  the  memory  of  his 
faithful  beast. 


UP  THE  TRAIL.  303 

He  had  set  out  to  aid  liis  friends  in  whatever 
way  might  present  itself,  and  he  now  resumed 
his  guarded  advance  along  the  mountain  trail, 
little  dreaming  that  the  most  trying  experience 
of  all  awaited  him. 


CHAPTEH  XXXIII. 

'^good-by!  " 

THERE  were  seven  of  tlie  Blackfeet  va- 
grants gathered  round  tlie  fire  to  which 
Lieutenant  Palmer  was  conducted,  and  where 
he  had  stood  only  a  few  minutes  when  Mr. 
Rainsford  and  his  little  Bessie  were  brought 
upon  their  horse,  which  was  led  by  another  of 
the  red  men,  who  had  three  companions. 

It  was  a  painful  shock  to  the  young  officer, 
who,  though  overtaken  by  misfortune  himself, 
was  confident  until  then  that  it  had  gone  well 
with  the  others.  But  here  they  were,  with 
only  Lieutenant  Hillson  unaccounted  for,  and 
now  the  dispirited  Palmer  began  to  fear  the 
worst  for  him. 

**We  made  a  great  mistake,"  remarked 
Mr.  Rainsford,  ''  for  we  ought  to  have  stayed 
in  the  house  where  we  were  safe  for  a  time  at 
least." 

He  had  dismounted  and  lifted  Bessie  down. 

304 


"good-by!"  305 

The  lieutenant  walked  forward  and  took  liis 
hand,  after  which  he  leaned  over  and  kissed 
the  child,  who  was  quite  bewildered  by  the 
turn  affairs  had   taken. 

The  Blackfeet  showed  no  disposition  to 
molest  them  further  than  to  take  good  care  to 
prevent  any  escape  on  their  part.  They  had 
disarmed  both  men,  and  so  placed  themselves 
that  the  latter  were  shut  off  from  any  attempt 
at  flight.  The  only  way  oi3en  led  to  the 
mountain  trail,  and  it  will  be  understood  that 
neither  thought  of  a  dash  in  that  direction. 
They  could  not  have  been  more  secure  bad 
they  been  locked  within  the  granite  walls  of  a 
penitentiary. 

^^I  heard  your  call,"  said  Mr.  Kainsford, 
after  the  lieutenant  had  briefly  related  the 
particulars  of  his  mishap,  *'and  managed  to 
reach  the  main  trail,  but  they  were  right  on 
our  heels.  Before  I  could  vault  into  the 
saddle  with  Bessie,  she  was  snatched  from  me 
and  my  gun  was  knocked  from  my  grasp  by 
one  of  the  neatest  tricks  you  ever  saw.  I  did 
not  believe  it  possible  the  thing  could  be  done 
so  cleverly.     Still,  you  may  be  sure  I  would 

20 


306  THE  PATH  IN   THE  EAVINE. 

have  made  a  fight  but  for  the  certain  conse- 
quences to  her.  The  warrior  who  held  her 
told  me  in  broken  English  that  if  I  would  sur- 
render she  should  not  be  hurt,  but  if  I  did  not 
they  would  dash  out  her  brains.  Little  reli- 
ance is  to  be  placed  on  the  pledges  of  these 
people,  but  the  risk  was  too  dreadful  to  be 
contemplated,  and  I  gave  up.  They  allowed" 
me  to  mount  and  hold  Bessie  in  front,  but  one 
of  them  took  Saladin's  bit  and  started  in  the 
other  direction  along  the  trail.  They  went  a 
considerable  distance,  when,  from  some  cause, 
they  wheeled  about,  and  here  we  are." 

'^ There  are  many  things  about  this  business 
which  I  do  not  understand,"  said  the  lieuten- 
ant;  ^' there  has  been  a  good  deal  of  firing, 
but  none  of  us  has  been  hurt,  unless  it  is  Hill- 
son.  Why  didn't  they  finish  me  when  they 
had  me  on  my  back,  and  why  didn't  they 
shoot  you  and  Bessie  instead  of  bringing  you 
in  prisoners  ? " 

"  The  Wild  Cat  is  their  leader,  and  no  doubt 
they  are  following  his  orders." 

"But  why  should  he  give  such  orders? 
What  can  he  wish  to  do  with  a  party  like  us  1" 


"good-by!"  307 

*'He  may  want  to  hold  us  as  hostages  in 
order  to  make  terms  with  the  authorities." 

The  lieutenant  shook  his  head.  To  him  the 
theory  was  untenable. 

''The  only  explanation  that  occurs  to  me," 
he  said,  after  a  minute's  thought,  "is  that 
which  we  have  discussed  before.  The  Wild 
Cat  desires  to  put  us  all  out  of  the  way,  but  is 
afraid  his  crime  would  become  known,  and  he 
would  be  hunted  down,  unless  he  can  destroy 
us  all  so  absolutely  that  no  trace  will  be  left 
to  tell  the  tale.  If  he  can  bring  in  Hillson  the 
conditions  will  be  just  what  he  is  trying  so 
hard  to  make  them,  for  then  he  will  have  free 
rope  and  need  not  fear  punishment." 

"Then  we  are  already  doomed." 

"  Why  do  you  say  that  ? " 

"Look  behind  you." 

The  lieutenant's  back  was  toward  the  trail 
as  he  faced  Mr.  Rainsford,  who  was  looking 
the  opi)osite  way.  Palmer  turned  like  a  flash 
at  the  words,  and  saw  two  warriors,  one  of 
whom  was  the  Wild  Cat,  approaching  the 
camp  with  Lieutenant  Hillson  between  them. 

The  latter,  in  playing  his  game  against  the 


308  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE.  ^ 

Blackfeet,  had  taken  desperate  chances.  He 
acquitted  himself  admirably  more  than  once, 
but  he  prolonged  the  contest  with  the  experts 
in  treachery,  with  the  result  that  he  was  out- 
witted at  last. 

It  was  the  hope  of  helping  his  friends  that 
led  him  to  steal  along  the  mountain  trail 
toward  the  scene  of  the  trouble,  instead  of 
hurrying  off  for  help.  He  proceeded  with  the 
utmost  caution,  and  walked  directly  into  the 
trap  set  for  him.  He  was  pounced  upon  and 
disarmed  before  he  could  help  himself,  and 
thus  it  came  about  that  every  one  of  the  party 
fell  into  the  power  of  the  Wild  Cat,  and  the 
hopeless  condition  spoken  of  by  Lieutenant 
Palmer  became  a  reality. 

Lieutenant  Hillson  smiled  sadly  as  he  caught 
sight  of  his  friends,  and  shook  his  head,  like 
one  who  realized  the  woful  blunder  he  had 
made.  He  looked  at  the  Wild  Cat  as  if  to 
ask  his  permission  to  join  the  others,  but  the 
leader  gave  no  sign,  and  he  walked  forward  to 
where  they  were  standing. 

The  conversation,  as  may  be  supposed,  was 
of  anything  but  a  cheerful  nature.     The  scene 


**good-by!"  309 

became  a  striking  one.  In  the  open  space,  at 
one  side  of  the  mountain  trail,  was  burning 
a  fire  which  illuminated  the  broad  level 
area,  enclosed  on  all  sides  but  one  by  stone 
walls,  too  precipitous  to  be  scaled  by  man  or 
animal. 

Two  horses,  saddled  and  bridled,  stood  close 
to  the  rocks  on  one  side  of  the  blaze,  while, 
with  the  exception  of  three  of  the  Blackfeet, 
the  warriors  assumed  all  manner  of  indifferent 
and  indolent  attitudes. 

Four  were  smoking,  one  was  stretched  full 
length  on  the  ground,  seemingly  interested 
in  the  fire,  two  were  examining  the  horses  and 
equipments,  as  if  pleased  with  the  prizes 
whose  ownership  they  envied,  while  a  charac- 
teristic jerking  conversation  engaged  at  times 
nearly  all  of  them. 

On  the  broad,  flat  bowlder,  placed  opposite 
the  animals  and  near  enough  to  the  blaze  to  feel 
the  ruddy  warmth,  w^ere  seated  the  Wild  Cat 
and  two  companions,  evidently  his  favorite 
warriors.  One  was  smoking,  and  all  were 
talking  in  low  tones,  accompanied  by  frequent 
glances  at  the  whites.     There  could  be  little 


310  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

doubt  tliey  were  discussing  the  disposition  to 
be  made  of  tliem. 

Mr.  Rainsford  and  the  two  officers  stood 
facing  each  other  as  nearly  as  that  could  be 
done,  and  so  close  together  that  their  voices 
rose  hardly  above  a  whisper,  for  they  now 
used  English  instead  of  Spanish.  The  still- 
ness, with  the  slight  interruptions  named,  was 
profound.  The  young  men  held  their  arms 
folded,  and  in  the  glow  of  the  firelight  looked 
strikingly  manly  and  attractive.  Both  had 
made  a  gallant  fight,  but  fortune  at  last  turned 
against  them. 

As  Mr.  Eainsford  looked  from  face  to  face 
he  held  the  hand  of  Bessie  clasped  in  one  of 
his  own.  He  had  asked  her  to  rest  herself  by 
sitting  on  the  ground,  but  she  preferred  to 
keep  her  feet,  and  looked  wonderingly  from 
one  to  the  other,  perhai)s  with  a  clearer  idea 
of  the  situation  than  any  suspected. 

*'I  believe  as  you  do,"  said  Hillson  to 
Palmer,  after  the  latter  had  repeated  his  belief 
that  the  Wild  Cat  was  only  awaiting  the  capt- 
ure of  the  entire  party  before  putting  them  to 
death  ;  '*so  long  as  he  feared  that  one  of  us 


'*good-by!"  311 

had  got  away  lie  did  not  dare  take  tlie  risk, 
but  now  there  is  nothing  to  restrain  him." 

^' We  shall  be  missed  in  time,"  remarked 
his  friend,  '^and  the  colonel  will  have  search 
made  for  ns ;  perhaps,  too,  it  will  become 
known  that  we  have  fallen  victims  to  the 
vagrant  Indians,  but  as  to  who  our  slayers 
were ' ' 

He  finished  the  remark  by  a  shrug  of  the 
shoulders  and  a  shake  of  the  head.  The  three 
men  could  discuss  their  own  awful  fate  thus 
coolly,  but  they  forgot  that  young  as  was  the 
child  that  glanced  so  silently  from  one  to  the 
other,  as  these  fearful  words  were  uttered,  she 
comprehended  their  meaning. 

The  three  Blackfeet  sitting  on  the  bowlder 
near  the  blaze  were  in  a  row,  the  Wild  Cat  being 
at  the  farther  end,  where  he  was  only  partly  vis- 
ible to  the  prisoners.  Bessie,  as  if  wearied  with 
listening  to  her  friends,  turned  her  attention 
to  the  group.  Just  then  the  leader  leaned 
forward,  and,  grasping  a  piece  of  wood  at  his 
feet,  gave  it  a  slight  toss  on  the  fire.  As  he 
did  so  the  glare  lit  up  his  countenance — the 
dangling  hair,  the  Roman  nose,  the  retreating 


312  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

chin,  and  the  daubs  of  paint  being  as  vividly 
seen  as  if  tlie  sun  were  at  meridian. 

*' Why,  there's  the  Wild  Cat!"  exclaimed 
the  child,  as  if  she  had  not  noticed  him  until 
that  moment,  and  before  her  father  read  her 
purpose  she  slipped  her  hand  from  his,  ran 
between  the  knees  of  the  leader,  and  looking 
into  his  face  with  her  winsome  smile  she 
asked : 

"  Why  didn't  you  speak  to  me  before  ? " 

The  savage,  with  a  forbidding  scowl,  pushed 
her  from  him. 

"  Go  way — don't  want." 

'*But  I  want  to  talk  w^ith  ?/02^,"  and  with 
childish  persistency  she  forced  her  way  to  her 
former  position.  He  made  as  if  to  thrust  her 
from  him  again,  but  the  effort  was  weaker  than 
before,  and  she  would  not  be  denied.  In  a 
twinkling  she  Avas  on  one  of  the  brawny  knees, 
and  with  the  same  innocent  expression  placed 
one  of  her  dimpled  arms  around  the  dusky 
shoulder  and  said : 

*'  What  a  funny  name  your  little  girl 
has  !  I  can't  think  of  it.  What  did  you 
say  it  is?" 


*^good-by!''  313 

**Aff-to.wa." 

**  Won't  you  bring  lier  to  see  me  ?  I  want 
to  play  with  lier.  I  haven't  any  little  girls  to 
play  with,  and  I  get  so  lonely." 

The  warrior  made  no  further  effort  to  drive 
her  from  him,  while  his  immediate  companions 
looked  on  in  silent  amazement.  Indeed,  all 
the  Blackfeet  were  gazing  at  the  extraordinary 
scene,  while  the  three  prisoners,  faced  that 
way,  held  their  peace  and  wondered  what  the 
outcome  would  be.  Had  the  Wild  Cat  offered 
the  prattling  child  any  harm,  every  one, 
though  unarmed,  would  have  sprung  upon 
him,  but  they  awaited  the  issue  of  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  situations  that  can  be 
conceived. 

With  her  hand  resting  on  the  shoulder  of 
the  vagrant,  Bessie  pushed  aside  the  coarse, 
dangling  hair,  a  portion  of  which  lay  on  his 
chest,  and  it  seemed  that  her  tongue  could 
never  be  still. 

"  We  are  going  a  long  way,"  she  said,  *'  but 
you  must  bring  Aff-to-wa  to  see  me.  I  will  let 
her  play  with  my  dolls,  and  I've  got  a  real  nice 
one  that  I  will  give  her,  and  she  can  stay,  oh ! 


314  THE  PATH  IN  THE  RAVINE. 

the  longest  time  with  me  ;  and  when  you  come 
to  take  her  away  you  can  stay  a  long  time, 
too.     Do  you  like  dolls?" 

The  i)ainted  countenance,  so  close  to  her 
own,  remained  as  immobile  as  the  face  of  a 
stone  image. 

''I  guess  you're  too  big  to  play  with  dolls, 
but  papa  loves  everybody  that  loves  me,  and 
he  will  give  you  lots  of  nice  things,  so  you  must 
come  ;  won't  you  ?" 

Still  the  iron  features  gave  no  sign.  See- 
ing that  he  did  not  mean  to  speak,  Bessie 
continued  : 

"Do  you  want  me  to  kiss  you?" 

The  Wild  Cat  nodded  his  head,  and  the 
spectators  were  dum  founded  w^hen  the  child 
touched  her  mouth  to  the  coppery  lips  of  the 
savage.  Those  who  looked  closely  at  the 
dusky  arm  that  hitherto  had  only  half  enclosed 
the  tiny  figure  saw  it  draw  closer,  and  he  held 
her  for  a  moment  just  as  any  affectionate 
parent  might  clasp  a  cherished  child  to  his 
heart. 

Only  for  a  moment,  however,  when  he  re- 
leased her,  and  she  sat  back  on  his  knee,  her 


ii  ri/^^r>  T.XT  t  5> 


good-by!"  315 

countenance  aglow  with  happiness,  while  she 
still  looked  at  the  features,  seeing  a  beauty- 
visible  only  to  one  of  her  pure  and  spotless 
nature. 

'^  You  haven't  told  me  whether  Aff-to-wa  is 
coming  to  see  me  when  I  get  home  to  St. 
Paul." 

''She  come,"  replied  the  Wild  Cat,  nod- 
ding his  head  several  times,  as  if  to  make 
up  for  his  former  refusal  to  answer  her 
questions. 

"I  am  so  glad,"  said  the  delighted  child; 
"  I  will  send  Peggy  to  her." 

Running  to  her  parent,  she  made  a  demand 
for  her  pet  doll,  which  was  under  his  special 
care.  With  a  smile  he  produced  the  some- 
what dilapidated  plaything  from  within  his 
coat,  where  he  had  hoped  to  preserve  it  for 
her  against  a  happy  deliverance  out  of  their 
troubles. 

"  She  is  yours,  Bessie  ;  do  what  you  please 
with  her." 

Hurrying  back  to  the  Blackfoot,  she  pressed 
the  precious  pet  upon  him.  The  iron  features 
relaxed  as  he  curiously  surveyed  the  gift,  and 


316  THE  PATH  IN  THE  EAVINE. 

he  made  as  if  to  return  it,  but  she  persisted, 
and  who  shall  measure  the  grief  of  that  little 
heart  on  parting  company  with  that  which 
could  not  have  been  dearer  had  it  possessed 
life  and  being ! 

"Tell  Aff-to-wa  that  Bessie  Rainsford  sent 
it  to  her,  and  you  have  promised  to  come  and 
see  me  at  St.  Paul,  .and  now  Wild  Cat, — that 
isn't  a  very  nice  name, — we  will  have  to  leave 
you." 

She  slid  off  his  knee  to  the  ground,  and  at 
the  same  moment  the  Indian  stood  uj)  and  said 
something  to  his  companions.  They  stared, 
as  if  doubting  his  meaning,  whereupon  he 
repeated  the  words  so  angrily  that  they 
bounded  to  their  feet.  He  could  be  as  harsh 
as  death  to  his  friends  as  to  his  enemies. 

Still  holding  the  hand  of  the  child,  the 
Wild  Cat  walked  around  the  fire  to  where  the 
horse  of  Mr.  Rainsford  was  nibbling  at  the  few 
scant  blades  of  grass  growing  near,  and  taking 
hold  of  the  bridle,  led  him  to  the  group  of 
prisoners.  Then,  fixing  his  black  eyes  upon 
the  owner,  he  said : 

*' You  ride  him — you  go." 


*^good-by!"  317 

The  hunter  was  too  wise  to  show  his  surprise 
or  to  hesitate,  for  at  this  point  everything 
depended  on  promptly  accepting  the  extraor- 
dinary offer  of  the  Blackfoot.  He  was  acting 
under  the  impulse  of  such  an  unwonted  emotion 
that  it  was  not  likely  to  last.  Mr.  Rainsford 
placed  his  foot  in  the  stirrup  and  swung  him- 
self into  the  saddle.  It  was  the  Wild  Cat 
himself  who  handed  the  child  to  him,  and  he 
set  her  in  front,  where  he  was  accustomed  to 
hold  her  when  travelling. 

The  leader  spoke  sharply  to  one  of  his  men, 
who  quickly  led  the  other  steed  to  the  spot 
without  a  word  of  protest. 

''You  ride— you  go,"  he  said,  addressing 
Palmer,  who  whispered  to  Hillson  at  the 
moment  of  mounting : 

"  Get  up  behind  me ;  it  won't  do  to  wait  a 
moment." 

The  young  officer  saw  the  situation,  and, 
with  slight  assistance  from  his  friend,  bestrode 
the  horse  behind  him.  The  Wild  Cat  spoke 
brusquely  again,  and  each  man  received  back 
his  fire-arms. 

All  were  now  mounted,  with  the  heads  of 


318  THE   PATH   IN  THE  EAVINE. 

the  animals  pointed  toward  the  mountain  trail. 
The  situation  was  unj^aralleled,  and  the  hearts 
of  our  friends  throbbed  painfully.  They  feared 
every  moment  that  the  Wild  Cat  would  become 
ashamed  of  the  weakness  that  impelled  him  to 
the  step  and  break  forth  into  greater  fury 
than  before  ;  but  they  had  their  weapons  now 
in  their  hands,  and  the  instant  result  of  such 
a  reversal  of  sentiment  would  be  a  fight  to  the 
bitter  end. 

The  Wild  Cat  was  standing  in  front  of  the 
horsemen,  as  if  undecided  whether  to  step 
aside,  when  Bessie,  from  her  father's  arms, 
said : 

"  Well,  Wild  Cat,  good-by  !  " 

She  leaned  as  far  over  as  she  could,  and  the 
dusky  vagrant,  without  a  moment's  hesitation, 
met  her,  and  once  more,  and  for  the  last  time, 
the  kiss  was  given  and  taken. 

*' Don't  forget  to  bring  Aff-to-wa  to  see 
me." 

By  a  common  instinct  Mr.  Bainsford  and 
the  two  officers  raised  their  hats  in  saluta- 
tion, not  only  to  the  Wild  Cat,  who  now 
moved  aside,  but  to  the  other  warriors  that 


**good-by!"  319 

were  silently  gazing  at  the  most  remarkable 
scene  they  had  ever  v/itnessed,  and  then 
they  rode  out  on  the  mountain  in  the  dark- 
ness and  headed  northward  toward  Fort 
Assinaboine. 


THE  END. 


Number  3  of  the  Forest  and  Prairie  Series  will  be  The 
Young  Rancher ^  a  story  of  the  Wyoming  cattle  ranges 
m  1892. 


i IIIBIllll « 


The 

Famous 

Castlemon 

Books. 

BY 

Harry 
Castlemon. 


specimen  Cover  ol  tbe  Gunboat 
Series. 


No  author  of  tbe  present  day  has  become  a  greater  favorite  wihboys  thaa 
''Harry  Castlemon;"  every  book  by  him  is  Mire  to  meet  witfi  henrty  re- 
ception by  young  readers  generally.  H.s  naturahiess  and  vivacity  lead  his 
readers  from  page  to  page  with  breathieps  interest,  and  when  one^vo'.ume  w 
finished  the  fascinated  reader,  like  Oliver  Twist,  asks  "  for  more." 

%*  Any  voiume  sold  separately. 


GUNBOAT  SERIES.      By  Harry  Castlemon.      6 
vols.,  i2mo.     Fully  illustrated.     Cloth,  extra,  printed 

in  colors.     In  box ^7  5° 

Prank,  the  Young  Naturalist i  25 

Frank  in  the  "Woods '  25 

Frank  oa  the  Prairie ^  ^S 

Frank  on  a  Gunboat '  25 

Frank  before  Vicksburg i  25 

Frank  oa  the  Lower  Mississippi 12^ 


2  HENRY  T.    COATES   &   CO.'S   POPULAR   JUVENILES. 

GO  AHEAD  SERIES.  By  Harry  Castlemon.  3 
vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  printed 
in  colors.     In  box i^3  75 

Go  Ahead ;  or,  The  Fisher  Boy's  Motto I  25 

No  Moss ;  or,  The  Career  of  a  Rolling  Stone  ....      I  25 

Tom  NeTvcombe  ;  or,  The  Boy  of  Bad  Habits     .   .      I  ^5 

ROCKir    MOUNTAIN    SERIES.      By    Harry 

Castlemon.     3  vols.,  i2mo.     Fully  illustrated.     Cloth, 
extra,  printed  in  colors.     In  box >»3  75 

Frank  at  Don  Carlos'  Rancho i  25 

Frank  among  the  Rancheros i  25 

Frank  in  the  Mountains i  25 

SPORTSMAN'S  CLUB  SERIES.  By  Harry 
Castlemon.  3  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth, 
extra,  printed  in  colors.     In  box l3  75 

The   Sportsman's  Club  in  the  Saddle  ....      i  25 

The  Sportsman's  Club  Afloat i  25 

The  Sportsman's  Club  among  the  Trappers  .      i  25 

FRANK  NELSON  SERIES.  By  Harry  Castle- 
mon. 3  vols.  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra, 
printed  in  colors.     In  box i^3  75 

Snowed  Up  ;  or,  The  Sportsman's  Club  in  the  Mts.  .      i  25 

Frank  Nelson  in  the  Forecastle  ;  or.  The  Sports- 
man's Club  among  the  Whalers I  25 

The  Boy  Traders  ;  or,  The  Sportsman's  Club  among 

the  Boers 12$ 

BOY  TRAPPER  SERIES.     By  Harry  Castlemon. 
3vols.,  i2mo.     Fully  illustrated.     Cloth,  extra,  printed 
I     in  colors.     In  box $3  7$ 

The  Buried  Treasure  ;   or.  Old  Jordan's  "  Haunt "     i  25 

The  Boy  Trapper ;  or,  How  Dave  Filled  the  Order .      i  25 

The  Mail  Carrier i  25 


HENRY   T.    COATES   &   CO.'S   POPULAR   JUVENILES.  3 

ROUGHING  IT  SERIES,  By  Harry  Castlemon. 
3  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  printed 
m  colors.     In  box ^3  75 

George  in  Camp  ;  or,  Life  on  the  Plains i  25 

George  at  the  "Wheel ;  or,  Life  in  a  Pilot  House  .      i  25 

George  at  the  Fort ;  or,  Life  Among  the  Soldiers  .      i  25 

ROD  AND  GUN  SERIES.  By  Harry  Castlemon. 
3  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  printed 
in  colors.     In  box 3  75 

Don  Gordon's  Shooting  Box i  25 

Rod  and  Gun i  25 

The  Yonng  "Wild  Fowlers i  25 

FOREST  AND  STREAM  SERIES.  By  Harry 
Castlemon.  3  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth, 
extra,  printed  in  colors.     In  box 3  75 

Joe  "Wayring  at  Home  ;  or,  Story  of  a  Fly  Rod    .      i  25 

Snagged  and  Sunk  ;  or,  The  Adventures  of  a  Can- 
vas Canoe  I  25 

Steel  Horse  ;  or,  The  Rambles  of  a  Bicycle  ....      i  25 

"WAR  SERIES.  By  Harry  Castlemon.  4  vols., 
I2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  printed  in 
colors.     In  box 5  00 

True  to  his  Colors i  25 

Rodney,  the  Partisan i  25 

Marcy,  the  Blockade  Runner i  25 

Marcy,  the  Refugee i  25 

OUR  FELLOWS ;  or.  Skirmishes  with  the  Swamp 
Dragoons.  By  Hsrry  Castlemon.  i6mo.  Fully  illus- 
trated.   Cloth,  extra I  25 


Ill'   UhnAumil  1 1  to  itnttiB  la  ummm  n    »!•  ii  mmi' 


3_ 


Alger's 

Renowned 

Books. 

BY 

Horatio 
Alger,  Jr. 


Specimen  Cover  of  the  Ragged 
Dick  Series. 

Horatio  Alger,  Jr.,  has  attamed  distinction  as  one  of  the  most  popular 
writers  of  books  for  boys,  and  the  following  list  comprises  all  of  his  best 
books. 

^%  Any  volume  sold  separately. 


RAGGED  DICK  SERIES.  By  Horatio  Alger, 
Jr.  6  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra, 
printed  in  colors.     In  box $7  S^ 

Ragged  Dick  ;  or,  Street  Life  in  New  York    ....       i  25 

Fame    and   Fortune ;   or,  The  Progress  of  Richard 

Hunter 12$ 

Mark,  the  Match  Boy ;  or,  Richard  Hunter's  Ward     i  25 

Rough  and  Ready ;  or,  Life  among  the  New  York 

Newsboys i  25 

Ben,  the  Lug-gage  Boy  ;  or,  Among  the  Wharves    .      i  25 

Rufus  and  Rose ;  or,  the  Fortunes  of  Rough  and 
Ready 

TATTERED  TOM  SERIES.  (First  Series.) 
By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  4  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illus- 
trated.    Cloth,  extra,  printed  in  colors.     In  box  ,    .    . 

(4) 


I    25 


5  00 


HENRY  T.   COATES   &   CO.'S   POPULAR   JUVENILES.  5 

Tattered  Tom  ;  or,  The  Story  of  a  Street  Arab  ...  1  25 

Paul,  the  Peddler;  or,  The  Adventures  of  a  Young 

Street  Merchant i  25 

Phil,  the  Fiddler ;  or,  The  Young  Street  Musician   .  i  25 

Slow  and  Sure ;  or,  From  the  Sidewalk  to  the  Shop  i  25 

TATTERED  TOM  SERIES.  (Second  Series.) 
4  vols.,  i2mo.     Fully  illustrated.     Cloth,  extra,  printed 

in  colors.     In  box $S  <^ 

Julius ;  or  the  Street  Boy  Out  West   . i  25 

The  Young  Outlaw  ;  or,  Adrift  in  the  World  ...  i  25 

Sam's  Chance  and  How  He  Improved  it .   .   .  i  25 

The  Telegraph  Boy .  i  25 

LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES.  (First  Series.) 
By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  4  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illus- 
trated.    Cloth,  extra,  printed  in  colors.     In  box  ...  ;^5  ^^ 

Luck  and  Pluck ;  or  John  Oakley's  Inheritance   .    .  i  25 

Sink  or  Swim  ;  or,  Harry  Raymond's  Resolve  ...  i  25 

Strong  and  Steady ;  or,  Paddle  Your  Own  Canoe  .  i  25 

Strive  and    Succeed ;   or,  The  Progress  of  Walter 

Conrad I  ^5 

LUCK  AND  PLUCK  SERIES.  (Second 
Series.)  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  3  vols.,  i2ino. 
Fully  illustrated.     Cloth,  extra,  printed  in  colors.     In 

box ^5  00 

Try  and  Trust ;  or.  The  Story  of  a  Bound  Boy  ...  i  25 

Bound  to  Rise  ;  or  Harry  Walton's  Motto I  25 

Risen  from  the  Ranks ;  or,  Harry  Walton's  Success     i  25 

Herbert  Carter's  Legacy  ;  or,  The  Inventor's  Son  .  i  25 

CAMPAIGN  SERIES.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  3 
vols.,  i2mo.     Fully  illustrated.     Cloth,  extra,  printed 

in  colors.     In  box ^3  75 

Prank's  Campaign  ;  or.  The  Farm  and  the  Camp    .  i  25 

Paul  Prescott's  Charge i  25 

Charlie  Codman's  Cruise i  25 


6  HENRY   T.    COATES   &   CO.'S   POPULAR  JUVENILES. 

BRAVE  AND  BOLD  SERIES.  By  Horatio 
Alger,  Jr.  4  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth, 
extra,  printed  in  colors.     In  box $S  ^^ 

Brave  and  Bold ;  or,  The  Story  of  a  Factory  Boy  .   .      i  25 

Jack's  Ward  ;  or,  The  Boy  Guardian i  25 

Shifting  for  Himself;  or,  Gilbert  Greyson's  For- 
tunes         ,   .    .    .      I  25 

Wait  and  Hope  ;  or,  Ben  Bradford's  Mottu   ....      i  25 

PACIFIC  SERIES  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  4 
vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  printed 
in  colors.     In  box $5  °o 

The   Young   Adventurer;  or,  Tom's  Trip  Across 

the  Plains i  25 

The  Young  Miner ;  or,  Tom  Nelson  in  California   .      i  25 

The  Young  Explorer  ;  or,  Among  the  Sierras     .    .       I  25 

Ben's  Nugget;  or,  A  Boy's  Search  for  Fortune.     A 

Story  of  the  Pacific  Coast 12$ 

ATLANTIC  SERIES.  By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr.  4 
vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  printed 
in  colors.     In  box $5  ^^ 

The   Young   Circus  Rider;   or,  The  Mystery  of 

Robert  Rudd I  25 

Do  and  Dare  ;  or,  A  Brave  Boy's  Fight  for  Fortune   .      i  25 

Hector's  Inheritance;  or.  Boys  of  Smith  Institute  .      i  25 

Helping  Himself ;  or.  Grant  Thornton's  Ambition     .      i  25 

WAY  TO  SUCCESS  SERIES.  By  Horatio 
Alger,  Jr.  4  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth, 
extra,  printed  in  colors.     In  box $S  ^^ 

Bob  Burton '  25 

The  Store  Boy i  25 

Luke  Walton i  25 

Struggling  Upward I  25 

New  Book  by  Alger. 

DIGGING   FOR  GOLD.      By  Horatio  Alger,  Jr. 

Illustrated  1 2mo.    Cloth,  black,  red  and  gold     ...      I  25 


A 

New  Series 

of  Books. 

Indian  Life 

and 

Character 

Founded  on 

Historical 

Facts. 


Specimen  Cover  of  the  Wyoming 
Series. 


By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 

^*^  Any  volume  sold  separately. 


BOY  PIONEER  SERIES.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
3  vols.,  l2mo.     Fully  illustrated.     Cloth,  extra,  printed 

in  colors.     In  box p3  75 

Ned  in  the  Block  House  ;  or,  Life  on  the  Frontier,     i  25 
Ned  in  the  Woods.     A  Tale  of  the  Early  Days  in 

the  West ^  ^5 

Ned  on  the  River ^  ^5 

DEERFOOT  SERIES.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis.     In 
box  containing  the  following.     3  vols.,  i2mo.     Ulus- 

trated •    '    .    .    •    ^3  75 

Hunters  of  the  Ozark ^  ^5 

Camp  in  the  Mountains ^  25 

The  Last  "War  Trail ^  ^5 

LOC^    CABIN    SERIES.      By  Edward  S.   Ellis. 
3  'ols.,  13'Mo.     Fully  illustrated.    Cloth,  extra,  pnnted 

f   CG-oW.     \nbox ^3  75 

(7) 


8  HENRY  T.    COATES   &   CO.'S   POPULAR  JUVENILES. 

Lost  Trail ^12$ 

Camp-Pire  and  Wigwam i  25 

Footprints  in  the  Forest i  25 

WYOMING   SERIES.     By  Edward  S.  Ellis.     3 
vols.,  i2mo.     Fully  illustrated.     Cloth,  extra,  printed 

in  colors.     In  box ^3  75 

Wyoming i  25 

Storm  Mountain i  25 

Cabin  in  the  Clearing i  25 

New  Books  by  Edward  S.  Ellis. 
Through  Forest  and  Fire.     i2ino.    Cloth    ...      i  25 
On  the  Trail  of  the  Moose.     i2mo.    Cloth    .   ,      i  25 

By  C.  A.  Stephens. 


Rare  books  for  boys — bright,  breezy,  wholesome  and  instructive  ;  full  of 
adveniure  and  incident,  and  information  upon  natural  history.  They  blend 
instruction  with  amusement — contain  much  useful  and  valuable  information 
upon  the  habits  of  animals,  and  plenty  of  adventure,  fun  and  jollity. 

CAMPING  OUT  SERIES.  By  C.  A.  Stephens. 
6  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  printed 
in  colors.     In  box •    •    j^7  5° 

Camping  Out.     As  recorded  by  "  Kit " i  25 

Left  on  Labrador ;  or  The  Cruise  of  the  Schooner 

Yacht  "  Curfew."     As  recorded  by  "  Wash "    ....       i   25 

Off  to  the  Geysers  ;  or,  The  Young  Yachters  in  Ice- 
land.    As  recorded  by ''Wade'' I   25 

Lynx    Hunting.      From   Notes  by  the    author    of 

"  Camping  Out " I  25 

Pox  Hunting.    As  recorded  by  "  Raed  " ,    i  25 

On  the  Amazon  ;  or.  The  Cruise  of  the  '*  Rambler." 
As  recorded  by  "  Wash  " I  25 


By  J.  T.  Trowbridge. 


These  stories  will  rank  among  the  best  of  Mr.  Trowbridge's  books  for  thf 
young — and  he  has  written  some  of  the  best  of  our  juvenile  literature. 

JACK  HAZARD  SERIES.  By  J.  T.  Trowbridge. 
6  vols.,  i2mo.  Fully  Illustrated.  Cloth,  extra,  printed 
in  colors.     In  box $7  S^ 


HENRY   T.    COATES   A    CO.'S    POPULAR   JUVENILES.  9 

Jack  Hazard  and  His  Fortunes J$i  25 

A  Chance  for  Himself;  or,  Jack  Hazard   and  his 

'i'reasure I  25 

Doing  His  Best i  25 

Fast  Friends i  25 

The  Young  Surveyor  ;  cr,  Jack  on  tlie  Prairies    .  i  25 
Lawrence's  Adventures  Among  the  Ice   Cut- 
ters, Glass  Makers,  Coal  Miners,  Iron  Men  and  Ship 

Builders i  25 

— G OOD   BOOKS— 

Suitable  for  Girls  between  the  Ages  of  12  and  15. 

"Ways  and  Means.  A  Story  for  girls.  By  Mar- 
garet Vandegrift.  With  four  illustrations.  l2mo. 
Cloth,  extra I  25 

The  Queen's  Body-Guard.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By 
Margaret  Vandegrift.  With  four  illustrations.  l2mo. 
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Rose  Raymond's  "Wards.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By 
Margaret  Vandegrift.  Illustrated  with  four  engravings 
on  wood.    i2mo.    Cloth,  extra I  25 

Doris  and  Theodora.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By  Mar- 
garet Vandegiift.  Illustrated  with  four  engravings  on 
wood.     i2mo.     Cloth,  extra '  25 

Dr.  Gilbert's  Daughters.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By 
Margaret  Harriet  Mathews.  Illustrated  with  four  en- 
gravings on  wood.     i2mo.    Cloth,  extra i  25 

Esther's  Fortune.  A  Romance  for  Girls.  By  Lucy 
C.  Lillie.  Illustrated.  i2mo.  Cloth,  extra,  brown 
and  gold I  25 

Helen  Glenn  ;  or,  My  Mother's  Enemy.  A  Story  for 
Girls.  By  Lucy  C.  Lillie.  Illustrated  with  eight  illus- 
trations.    i2mo.     Cloth, extra I  25 

The  Squire's  Daughter.    By  Lucy  C.  Lillie.    i2mo. 

Illustrated.     Cloth,  extra I  25 

For  Honor's   Sake.      By  Lucy  C.   Lillie.      i2mo. 

Illustrated.     Cloth,  extra I  25 

Marion  Berkley.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By  Lizzie  B. 
Comins  (Laura  Caxton).  i2mo.  Illustrated.  Cloth, 
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Hartwell  Farm.  A  Story  for  Girls.  By  Lizzie  B. 
Comins  (Laura  Caxton).  i2mo.  Illustrated.  Cloth, 
extra^  brown  and  gold     .    .   ■, I  25 


THE  HANDSOMEST  AND  CHEAPEST  GIFT  BOOKS. 

Z^k^  "-gells"  ;3eries. 


The"  BELLS  "  Series  has  been  undertaken  by  the  publishers  with  a  view 
to  issue  original  illustrated  poems  of  a  high  character,  at  a  price  within  ♦he 
reach  of  all  classes. 

Small  4to ^i  50 

Ivory  surface i  50 

Embossed  calf,  gilt  edges \  50 

GEMS  FROM  TENNYSON. 
By  Alfred  Tennyson,    Elegantly  illustrated  by  Hammatt  Billings. 

BEAUTIES  OF  TENNYSON. 

By  Alfred  Tennyson.  Elegantly  illu-trated  with  twenty  engravings,  from 
original  drawings  by  Frederic  B.  Schell.  Beautifully  printed  on  the  finest 
plate  paper. 

FROM  GREENLAND'S  ICY  MOUNTAINS. 

By  Bishop  Heber.  Elegantly  illustrated  with  twenty-two  engravings,  from 
original  drawings  by  Frederic  B.  Schell.  Beautifully  printed  on  the  finest 
plate  paper. 

LADY  CLARE. 

By  Alfred  Tennyson.  Elegantly  illustrated  with  twenty-two  engravings, 
from  original  drawings  by  Alfred  Fredericks,  F.  S.  Church,  Harry  Fenn, 
F  B.  Schell,  E.  P.  Garret  and  Granville  Perkins.  Beautifully  printed  on 
the  finest  plate  paper. 

THE  NIGHT  BEFORE  CHRISTMAS. 

By  Clement  C.  Moore.  Never  before  has  this  popular  poem — a  favorite 
with  both  the  old  and  the  young — been  presented  in  such  a  beautiful  dress. 
It  is  elegantly  illustrated  with  twenty-two  engravings,  from  original  draw- 
ings by  F.  B.  Schell,  W.  T.  Smedley,  A.  Fredericks  and  H.  R.  Poore. 

BINGEN  ON  THE  RHINE. 

By  Caroline  E.  Norton.  Elegantly  illustrated  with  twenty-two  en- 
gravings, from  original  drawings  by  W.  T.  Smedley,  F.  B.  Schell,  A. 
Fredericks,  Granville  Perkins  and  E.  P.  Garrett. 

THE  BELLS. 

By  Edgar  Allan  Poe.  Elegantly  illustrated  with  twenty-two  engravings, 
fi-om  original  drawings  by  F.  O.  C.  Darley,  A.  Fredericks,  Granville 
Perkins  and  others. 

THE  DESERTED  VILLAGE. 

By  Oliver  Goldsmith.  Elegantly  illustrated  with  thirty-five  engravings, 
from  drawings  by  Hammatt  Billings. 

THE  COTTER'S  SATURDAY  NIGHT. 

iiy  Robert  Burns.  Elegantly  illustrated  with  fifty  engravings,  from  draw- 
.ngs  by  Chapman. 

10 


^tanbarb    J][istopies. 


History  of  England,  from  the  Accession  of 
James  the  Second.  By  Thomas  Babington 
Macaulay.  Standard  edition.  With  a  steel  portrait 
of  the  author  Printed  from  new  electrotype  plates 
from  the  last  English  edition.  Being  by  far  the  most 
correct    edition  in    the    American   market.     5    vols., 

l2mo.     Cloth,  extra,  per  set ^5  00 

Sheep,  marbled  edges,  per  set 7  5^ 

Half  Russia  (imitation),  marbled  edges 7  5° 

Half  calf,  gilt ^^  "^ 

History  of  the  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman 
Empire.  By  Edward  Gibbon.  With  notes  by  Rev. 
H.  H.  Milman.  Standa?'d  edition.  To  which  is 
added  a  complete  Index  of  the  work.  A  new  edition 
from  entirely  new  stereotype  plates.     With  portrait  on 

steel.     5  vols.,  i2mo.     Cloth,  extra,  per  set 5^0 

Sheep,  marbled  edges,  per  set 7  5° 

Half  Russia  (imitation),  marbled  edges, 7  5^ 

Half  calf,  gilt,  per  set ^o  ^o 

History  of  England,  from  the  Invasion  of 
Julius  Caesar  to  the  Abdication  of  James 
the  Second,  1688.  By  David  Hume.  Standard 
edition.  With  the  author's  last  correcdons  and  im- 
provements, to  which  is  prefixed  a  short  account  of  his 
life,  written  by  himself.  With  a  portrait  on  steel.  A 
new  edition  from   entirely   new  stereot)-pe  plates.     5 

vols.,  i2mo.     Cloth,  extra,  per  set S^ 

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Half  Russia  (imitation),  marbled  edges 7  5^ 

Half  calf,  gilt ^o  ^ 


|iJ]|/|isce!!Qneous. 


A  Dictionary  of  the  Bible.  Comprising  its  An- 
tiquities, Biography,  Geography,  Natural  History  and 
Literature.  Edited  by  Wilham  Smith,  LL.D.  Re- 
vised and  adapted  to  the  present  use  of  Sunday  school 
Teachers  and  Bible  Students  by  Revs.  F.  JS'.  and 
M.  A.  Peloubet.  With  eight  colored  maps  and  440 
engravings  on  wood.     8vo.     Cloth,  extra  ......    ;^2  00 

Sheep,  marbled  edges 3  00 

Half  morocco,  gilt  top 3  50 

History  of  the  Civil  War  in  America.     By  the 

Comte  de  Paris.  Translated  with  the  approval  of  the 
author.  With  maps  faithfully  engraved  from  the  origi- 
nals, and  printed  in  three  colors.     8vo. 

Cloth,  extra,  per  vol 3  50 

Red  cloth,  extra,  Roxburgh  style,  uncut  edges,  per  vol.     3  50 

Sheep,  library  style,  per  vol 4  50 

Half  Turkey  morocco,  per  vol 6  00 

Volumes  I,  II,  III  and  IV  now  ready,  put  up  in  a  neat 
box,  or  any  volume  sold  separately. 

The  Battle  of  Gettysburg.     By  the  Comte  de  Paris. 

With  maps.     Svo.     Cloth,  extra i   5° 

Comprehensive  Biographical  Dictionary.  Em- 
bracing accounts  of  the  most  eminent  persons  of  all 
ages,  nations  and  professions.  By  E.  A.  Thomas. 
Crown  Svo, 

Cloth,  extra,  gilt  top 2  50 

Sheep,  marbled  edges 3  00 

Half  morocco,  gilt  top ,    ,      3  50 

Half  Russia,  gilt  top 4  50 

The  Amateur  Photographer.  A  manual  of  photo- 
graphic manipulations  intended  especially  for  begin- 
ners and  amateurs,  with  suggestions  as  to  the  choice  of 
apparatus  and  of  processes.  By  EUerslie  Wallace, 
Jr.,  M.D.  New  edition,  with  two  new  chapters  on 
paper  negatives  and  microscopic  photography.     i2mo. 

Limp  morocco,  spnnkled  edges  .,,,,,,,.      i  00 

X8 


I— ravine  


♦  y 


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